MLB Player News

Taillon isn't expected to make another start until next week, as the Cubs have named Justin Steele and Marcus Stroman as their starters for their two-game weekend series in London versus the Cardinals, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Taillon last pitched Sunday, so he wasn't an option to make a start during the Cubs' three-game series with the Pirates that ran Monday through Wednesday. Due to off days Thursday and Friday while they make the trip overseas, the Cubs will use the break in the schedule to reorder the rotation and have their top two starters take the hill in London. It's unclear if Taillon will be available out of the bullpen during the London series, as the Cubs may not want to overwork him ahead of his likely return to the rotation at some point during next week's three-game set with the Phillies.

Abbott didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Rockies after allowing three runs on four hits while striking out 10 batters over six innings.

Abbott's run of three straight scoreless starts to begin MLB career came to an end in a hurry Wednesday, as the rookie left-hander allowed a leadoff home run to Brenton Doyle to open the game. He went on to surrender two more solo homers on the afternoon but still managed to reach six innings and set a career high in strikeouts. Abbott also didn't walk a batter for the first time in four starts this season.

Alcantara (2-6) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs on 10 hits with two walks over seven innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out six.

The Blue Jays jumped all over Alcantara in the second inning, racking up five runs on six hits -- four of which came in the first four at-bats. The right-hander wouldn't allow another run to come across over the next five innings, but the damage had already been done, leaving the reigning National League Cy Young winner with his sixth loss of the season. Alcantara has now allowed five runs in back-to-back starts and in three of his four starts this month as his nightmare season continues.

Williams (4-4) picked up the win in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Cardinals, scattering five hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The veteran right-hander was brilliant over 75 pitches (50 strikes), and after he left a first-inning double by Lars Nootbaar stranded at second base, Williams didn't allow another runner to get into scoring position. The quality start was only his third of the year, and he'll carry a 4.14 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 58:24 K:BB through 76 innings into his next outing, likely to come early next week in Seattle.

Mikolas (4-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings as the Cardinals were blanked 3-0 by the Nationals. He struck out three.

The veteran righty rebounded from a couple shaky outings to deliver his sixth quality start of the season, but he got no help from his offense as he fell to 0-4 in June. After posting a 1.89 ERA in May, Mikolas has stumbled to a 5.63 mark through 24 innings this month, but he'll try to take some momentum into his next outing, which is likely to come at home next week against the Astros.

Darvish dropped to 5-6 after allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Giants.

Darvish was done in by a rough fifth inning, which saw the Giants rally for all four runs on five hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly. It's the second start in a row where the right-hander has dropped off in the fifth -- while it's too soon to call it a pattern, it's at least something to monitor over the remainder of the first half. He's given up 14 runs across 16.1 innings in his last three starts, raising his ERA for the year to 4.84 with a 1.23 WHIP and 85:25 K:BB through 80 innings. Darvish is lined up for a road start in Pittsburgh next week.

Teheran did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two hits and four walks over five scoreless innings in a 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. He struck out three.

Teheran continued his excellent start to the 2023 season, limiting Arizona to just two hits across five innings. However, he was outdueled by Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen, who allowed just one run over seven frames and picked up his second no-decision of the season. Though Teheran set a season high with four walks Wednesday, he managed to get timely outs to hold the Diamondbacks scoreless and drop his ERA to 1.53 through six starts (35.1 innings).

Gallen (9-2) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings against the Brewers. He struck out four.

Gallen added another impressive start to his Cy Young resume, with the only run allowed coming on a solo homer by Raimel Tapia in the fifth as he held the Brewers to three hits over seven innings. Though the long ball marked Gallen's fourth straight start allowing a homer, he's logged two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts and is now tied for the second-most wins in MLB with nine. Gallen is a perfect 7-0 at home with a 1.00 ERA and 67:7 K:BB through eight starts (54.0 innings) and is tentatively slated to return to Chase Field for a start versus the Rays early next week.

Hill (6-7) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out four.

Though Hill allowed just four hits on the day, three were extra-base hits, highlighted by a two-RBI triple by Nico Hoerner and a two-RBI double by Ian Happ. The untimely hits resulted in Hill's seventh loss of the season, tied for the fifth most in MLB. Despite posting a 6-7 record through 15 starts (83 innings), Hill has allowed more than three earned runs just four times all year with a 4.34 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 76:31 K:BB. The 43-year-old is tentatively scheduled to make his next appearance at home against the Padres.

Nola won't start as scheduled Wednesday against Atlanta because the game has been postponed due to rain, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Nola's turn in the rotation will presumably now come Thursday, while Wednesday's game will be made up Sept. 11. The 30-year-old righty holds a 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 28 strikeouts through 20 innings since the beginning of June.