MLB Player News

Hughes will start Friday's game versus the Reds in Colorado, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Hughes pitched well in his first major-league start last week, striking out seven while limiting the Dodgers to three runs across six innings. That showing has earned Hughes at least one additional start, though he should be avoided for fantasy purposes with the outing against the Reds coming at Coors Field.

Sugano (back) is expected to rejoin the Rockies' rotation with a start Saturday against the Reds, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Sugano has missed the last two weeks of action with back spasms. He has not made any rehab starts, but the Rockies appear ready to re-insert the right-hander into their rotation this weekend. With a lack of rehab outings, Sugano's pitch count could be relatively limited Saturday versus Cincinnati.

Clarke (arm) began a rehab assignment at the rookie-level Florida Complex League on July 11, striking out two in 1.2 scoreless innings.

Clarke was finally cleared to pitch in games after undergoing surgery in January to address an aneurysm in his left arm. The left-hander was acquired from the Red Sox over the offseason in the Sonny Gray trade and should eventually be assigned to High-A Peoria.

Burns (groin) will start Tuesday's game against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

Burns dealt with a groin issue during his most recent start July 8 against the Phillies, prompting him to pull out of his first All-Star Game appearance. The injury was never viewed as a major concern, and with the All-Star break providing Burns with some extra time to recuperate, he won't have to miss a turn through the rotation. The 23-year-old righty closed the first half with an 11-1 record, 2.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 118:37 K:BB across 102.2 innings over 18 starts.

Wheeler will not make a start during this weekend's series with the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Both Cristopher Sanchez and Wheeler will not start during the upcoming three-game series against the Mets, as Philadelphia will throw Aaron Nola on Thursday followed by Jesus Luzardo and Alan Rangel on Saturday and Sunday. By doing so, Sanchez and Wheeler will be lined up to start the first two games of next week's three-game series against the Dodgers. Wheeler went 10-1 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 108:22 K:BB across 93 innings prior to the All-Star break.

Sanchez will not make a start during this weekend's series with the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Philadelphia will start Aaron Nola on Thursday followed by Jesus Luzardo and Alan Rangel on Saturday and Sunday. By pushing Sanchez and Zack Wheeler back in the rotation, it will allow the duo to start the first two games of next week's three-game set with the Dodgers. Firmly in the mix for the NL Cy Young award, Sanchez pitched to an 11-4 record, 2.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 144:25 K:BB during the first half of the season. He also started the All-Star Game for the National League but was roughed up for three runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in his lone inning.

The Brewers acquired McCullers (shoulder), Colton Gordon and cash considerations from the Astros on Wednesday in exchange for Jadyn Fielder.

It's a salary dump for Houston, who is getting out from most of the remainder of the final year of McCullers' five-year, $85 million deal. McCullers hasn't pitched with Houston since May 15 due to a shoulder impingement, but the right-hander is winding down a rehab assignment and should join Milwaukee's staff sooner than later. It's another reclamation project for the Brewers, as McCullers has pitched to a 6.65 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 5.8 BB/9 across 94.2 innings since the start of the 2025 season after missing the entire 2023 and 2024 campaigns due to injuries.

Taillon (hamstring) struck out three and allowed one hit and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Iowa.

Making the second start of his rehab assignment, Taillon built up to 53 pitches (34 strikes) and posted an excellent Called Strikes plus Whiffs rate of 32.1 percent. According to MLB.com, Taillon is slated to throw during the All-Star break, and if the Cubs' coaching and training staffs are satisfied with how he looks, the veteran right-hander should rejoin the big-league rotation to begin the second half. Taillon has been on the shelf since June 9 due to a left hamstring strain.

Williams (elbow) struck out five and allowed one unearned run on one hit and one walk across two innings Tuesday in a rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Williams has now made four rehab starts since his 30-day window opened June 28, but he has yet to reach three innings in any of those appearances. Though the veteran right-hander has worked primarily as a starter during his big-league career, the lighter workloads he's handled two and a half weeks into his rehab assignment suggest that the Nationals could be preparing for him to handle a multi-inning role out of the bullpen once he returns from the 60-day injured list. Williams has been on the shelf all season while completing his recovery from internal brace surgery, which he underwent last July.

Knack struck out two and allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks across three innings in relief Saturday in the Dodgers' 9-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

After being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Saturday following a lengthy recovery from an intercostal strain, Knack was put to work right away in the Dodgers' penultimate game of the first half. With starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting chased from the contest after five innings, Knack mopped up in long relief, needing 60 pitches to record his nine outs. The right-hander made 19 starts at the big-league level over the previous two seasons, but he looks like he'll have to settle for a bullpen role unless another injury creates an opening in the Dodgers' six-man rotation.