MLB Player News

Forbes (elbow) struck out three and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks over 2.1 innings in his first start for High-A Hillsboro on Wednesday after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.

A first-round selection in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Forbes didn't pitch at all last summer and then had his professional debut further delayed after emerging from spring training with a flexor tendon injury. The 21-year-old righty was finally cleared to make a two-inning rehab start in the Arizona Complex League on May 27, and that appearance was the only one Forbes needed in rookie ball before being moving up to a full-season affiliate.

Boyd (knee) has completed his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa and is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of the Cubs' three-game series in San Francisco next weekend, Matt Carlson of the Associated Press reports.

Boyd made his second and final start with Iowa on Saturday, yielding five earned runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and one walk while striking out five over five innings. Though Boyd's command was a bit off during the start, more important was the fact that he was able to build up to 83 pitches while steering clear of any setbacks with his left knee. The southpaw has been limited to just five starts with the Cubs this season while having missed three weeks in April due to a biceps strain and another four weeks due to the meniscectomy he required May 7, but his impending return from the shelf comes at an especially convenient time with Jameson Taillon set to go on the IL after straining his hamstring Sunday. Boyd should slide right into Taillon's spot in the rotation when it comes up again Friday or Saturday.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Sunday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Giants that Taillon (hamstring) will be headed to the 15-day injured list, Marquee Sports Network reports.

Taillon was charged with an earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters over one inning before he was forced out of his start Sunday in the top of the second due to a left hamstring strain. Counsell noted that the severity of the injury until Taillon receives imaging Monday, but the Cubs have already determined that the hamstring strain will keep the right-hander out of commission for at least the next two weeks. Javier Assad tossed 6.1 shutout innings in long relief following Taillon's departure Sunday, but Assad could end up sticking in the bullpen if Matthew Boyd (knee) is cleared to return from the 15-day IL by the time Taillon's turn in the rotation comes up next weekend in San Francisco.

McDonald did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.

McDonald was largely able to stifle the Cubs offense, as three of the opposition's four hits came in the third inning when Moises Ballesteros drove in the club's lone run. Aside from a seven-run outing May 22 against the White Sox, McDonald has been effective since being recalled and inserted into the rotation at the start of May. The 25-year-old will take a 2-3 record with a 4.15 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB across 39 innings (seven starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday in a home rematch with the Cubs.

Sheehan (3-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings against the Angels. He struck out two.

Sheehan worked a scoreless first inning but labored through a 35-pitch second inning, prompting the Dodgers to pull the 26-year-old after he recorded just one out in the frame. Entering Sunday's contest, the right-hander posted a 3.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 26:5 K:BB across 27 innings over his previous five starts. Sheehan will carry a 4.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 64:16 K:BB across 59.1 innings (12 starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for next Sunday against the White Sox.

Cavalli (3-4) took the loss Sunday against Arizona, surrendering four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out two across five innings.

Cavalli was undone by the long ball Sunday, serving up homers to Corbin Carroll in the first inning and Gabriel Moreno in the fifth that accounted for a majority of the damage. More concerning for fantasy managers was the lack of swing-and-miss stuff, as he managed just two strikeouts across five innings after entering Sunday with 74 punchouts across 64.2 innings. Cavalli now owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 76:25 K:BB across 69.2 innings and is scheduled to face Seattle in his next start.

Soroka (8-3) earned the win Sunday against Washington, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six across seven innings.

After surrendering a game-tying solo homer to CJ Abrams in the second inning, Soroka was nearly perfect the rest of the way, tossing five scoreless frames to close out his seven-inning effort. It was his first start of at least seven innings with one or fewer earned runs since August 10, 2019 -- a meaningful milestone for a pitcher who has spent the better part of those six years battling back from two torn Achilles injuries. Soroka's ERA at Chase Field sits at an impressive 2.09 across eight home starts this season. With a 3.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 72:17 K:BB in 74 innings, he will seek to build off Sunday's success in his next scheduled start on the road against Cincinnati.

Vasquez (5-4) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks over four-plus innings in a 7-3 loss to the Mets. He struck out three.

Vasquez struggled to find a rhythm, surrendering a run in each of the first two innings before allowing another run in the fifth. The right-hander exited with the bases loaded and nobody out in that frame, handing a difficult situation to Yuki Matsui, who allowed one of the inherited runners to score. After getting off to a blazing start with a 1.88 ERA through his first five starts, Vasquez now owns a 3.63 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 53:20 K:BB across 13 starts (69.1 innings). He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Orioles.

Freeland took a no-decision Sunday against Milwaukee, surrendering three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out two across five innings.

Freeland appeared on track for one of his better outings of the season after holding Milwaukee to just one run through five innings, but back-to-back hits to open the sixth inning ended his day. The inherited runner he left on base eventually came around to score as the Brewers erupted for seven runs in the frame. The outing was still a memorable one for the veteran left-hander, as he raised his career innings total to 1,313.1 to become the Rockies' all-time franchise leader in innings pitched. However, the milestone comes amid a difficult season, as Freeland now owns a 7.81 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 53 innings. A home start scheduled next against the Athletics offers little fantasy appeal, as Freeland's command and ability to miss bats continues to trend in the wrong direction.

Taillon suffered a left hamstring strain in the second inning of Sunday's game against the Giants, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Taillon pulled up lame on the final pitch of a six-pitch walk to Matt Chapman in the top of the second inning, and his departure is now understood to be the result of a hamstring injury. The right-hander now appears to be at risk of going on the 15-day injured list, and depending on the severity of the strain, Taillon could be forced to miss extended time. Javier Assad came on in relief of Taillon and could be a potential replacement in the rotation if Taillon is forced to the IL, though Matthew Boyd (knee) could also be ready for activation the next time a fifth starter is needed.