MLB Player News

Cubs manager David Ross said Smyly (oblique) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chicago will end up welcoming two starters back from the injured list to close out the weekend series in Los Angeles, as Marcus Stroman (shoulder) was activated Saturday and worked four innings in the Cubs' 4-2 loss. Smyly will be making his first appearance for the Cubs since May 30 after he was on the shelf for the past five and a half weeks with a right oblique strain. The southpaw covered four innings and tossed 52 pitches in his lone minor-league rehab start back on Monday, so he expects to be capped at around 85 pitches in his return from the IL.

Wood (hamstring) is listed as the Giants' scheduled starting pitcher for Sunday's game in San Diego.

Wood experienced cramping in his left hamstring during his most recent outing Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, but he was apparently able to complete a between-starts bullpen session without issue to keep himself on track for the two-start week. The southpaw has had mixed results over his six starts since the beginning of June, tossing two quality starts in that stretch but posting a 7.41 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across his last four appearances.

Stroman (shoulder) threw four scoreless innings Saturday versus the Dodgers. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three, and he didn't factor in the decision.

Stroman missed a month with right shoulder inflammation. He was limited in this appearance, throwing 59 pitches (37 strikes), though he was effective after his stint on the injured list. It's an encouraging return for the right-hander, who still owns a mediocre 4.91 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 48:13 K:BB through 51.1 innings in 10 starts this year. He's projected for a home start versus the Mets next weekend, though it's likely he'll still be working on a pitch count for that outing as he continues to stretch out to a full workload.

Kershaw (6-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings, earning the win over the Cubs on Saturday.

Kershaw worked into the eighth inning for the first time since last June. This was the ninth time in 11 starts he's limited opponents to two or fewer runs, and he's now logged six quality starts in 2022. He's in vintage form in July with only one earned run, nine hits and a walk allowed in 14.2 innings over his last two starts. The 34-year-old southpaw has a 2.40 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 69:12 K:BB through 63.2 innings overall, and he's projected for a road start versus the Angels next weekend.

Rodon (8-5) earned the win Saturday over the Padres. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts in nine innings.

For the ninth time in 17 starts, Rodon limited the opposition to one or fewer runs. This was the third complete game of his career, and his first since his no-hitter April 14, 2021. The southpaw dialed up double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this year, and he threw 79 of 112 pitches for strikes. He's pitched to an excellent 2.70 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 124:32 K:BB through 100 innings. Rodon will likely get one more start before the All-Star break, which is currently projected as a home game versus the Brewers next week.

Darvish allowed a run on three hits, two walks and a hit batter while striking out six over seven innings, taking a no-decision in Saturday's loss to the Giants.

Darvish allowed three home runs to the Dodgers in his last start, but he kept the ball in the yard this time around. He limited the Giants to a second-inning sacrifice fly from Brandon Crawford, but the Padres mustered only one run of support. Darvish has now gone a season-high three starts without a win. He owns a 3.38 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 91:20 K:BB across 101.1 innings in 16 starts overall. The right-hander is still sporting a 7-4 record heading into next weekend's projected home start versus the Diamondbacks.

Freeland (4-7) took the loss Saturday versus the Diamondbacks. He allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 6.1 innings.

Freeland got off to a rocky start, allowing three runs in the first inning. He settled in well after that, allowing just one baserunner in the next four innings, but Jordan Luplow tagged him for a solo shot in the sixth and Freeland allowed two more batters aboard in the seventh before his exit. This was only the second time this season he's allowed a half-dozen or more runs in a start, but he's rarely been dominant as evidenced by his 4.70 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 66:29 K:BB through 97.2 innings in 17 starts. He's tentatively projected for a tough home start versus the Padres next week.

Woodruff registered a no-decision during Saturday's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in six-plus innings.

Woodruff was perfect through four innings and held Pittsburgh scoreless through six, but it fell apart in the seventh when he departed after surrendering three straight hits to lead off the inning. The three runs surrendered snapped a streak of five starts allowing two earned runs or fewer. The 29-year-old has a 4.01 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 60.2 innings. Woodruff is scheduled to pitch again next weekend on the road in San Francisco.

Corbin (4-11) took the loss during Saturday's 4-3 defeat against Atlanta, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings.

Corbin struggled during the first and fourth innings -- surrendering all four runs and eight of 10 baserunners -- but was efficient otherwise and faced the minimum in the other four frames. The four runs permitted broke a four-game streak of allowing three earned runs or fewer that's seen Corbin's ERA drop from 6.65 to 5.70. He's tentatively slated to take the mound again next weekend for a rematch with Atlanta.

Wright (10-4) earned the win during Saturday's 4-3 victory over Washington, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Wright limited the damage to a Juan Soto solo shot through six frames but surrendered a Yadiel Hernandez home run in the seventh and walked Soto before being yanked in the eighth. Soto eventually came around to score, but Will Smith was able to keep the lead, bringing Wright into a tie for third in the majors with 10 wins. The 26-year-old was efficient in requiring only 84 pitches to surpass seven frames and induced an impressive 13 swinging strikes, though keeping 66 pitches in the strike zone led to 10 baserunners allowed. Wright is slated to take the mound in a road rematch with Washington next week.