MLB Player News

Elder (8-8) took the loss Monday against the Giants, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings.

Elder was tagged for a homer by Rafael Devers just two batters into the game and later surrendered another long ball to Osleivis Basabe in the sixth before exiting. It marked the second time in his last four starts that Elder has allowed at least five runs. The right-hander owns a 4.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 121:49 K:BB across 149 innings this season. He's scheduled to make his next start Monday against the Phillies.

Holmes (6-6) earned the win Monday, allowing five hits and two walks over six scoreless innings against the Brewers. He struck out eight.

Provided with ample run support, Holmes was locked in on the mound, putting together a scoreless outing for the second straight start. Since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, the right-hander has posted a 1.55 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 18:9 K:BB across 29 innings (five starts). Overall, he owns a 2.09 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 63:27 K:BB over 81.2 innings (14 starts) and is tentatively scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Marlins.

Gusto took a no-decision against the Nationals on Monday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

Gusto threw four shutout innings before running into trouble in the fifth, when he was chased from the outing after recording one out in the frame. The Marlins have continually shown a lack of willingness to let the right-hander work deep into starts, as Gusto has pitched into the sixth inning just twice in 14 starts. He's slated to wrap up a two-start week over the weekend against the Cubs, holding a 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB over 67.2 innings.

Steele (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Steele has managed to successfully toss several bullpen sessions, proving that he's ready to progress to facing live hitters. He'll presumably need to make at least a few appearances in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list, at which point he would likely provide support for the Cubs out of the bullpen considering he won't have enough time to build back up to a starter's workload.

The Marlins optioned Gonzalez to Triple-A Jacksonville on Monday.

Gonzalez's stay with the Marlins lasted just two days and came and went without him making an appearance out of the bullpen. Miami recalled lefty Cade Gibson from Triple-A to replace Gonzalez on the active roster.

The Mets are planning to activate Hagenman (rib) from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Hagenman won't be guaranteed any additional starts beyond Wednesday, as Puma notes that the Mets may be inserting the righty into the rotation this week simply as a means to build in a couple extra days of rest for Christian Scott and their other four starters. The 29-year-old has been on the shelf all season after fracturing a rib in a March 5 Grapefruit League game, with his slow recovery from the injury preventing him from beginning a rehab assignment until Aug. 18. He's pitched effectively across three starts in the minors (one with Single-A St. Lucie, two with Triple-A Syracuse), producing a 2.89 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 9.1 innings. Hagenman tossed 64 pitches in his final rehab outing Friday, so he'll likely be operating with a restricted workload in his 2026 Mets debut.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Williamson (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Padres in Cincinnati, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Williamson has been deemed ready to rejoin the big club after wrapping up a six-appearance rehab assignment, during which he compiled a 5.94 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB across 16.2 innings. In his final outing with Triple-A Louisville last Thursday, Williamson covered 4.1 innings and 84 pitches, setting him up to handle a traditional starter's workload when he makes his first appearance for the Reds since April 29. The 28-year-old lefty isn't expected to be in store for any starts beyond Wednesday, however, as Francona noted that he plans to have Williamson piggyback starter Chase Burns in the latter pitcher's future turns through the rotation for the remainder of the season. The arrangement may put a cap on Williamson's overall workload, but it should aid his chances of picking up wins, especially if Burns is limited to fewer than five innings in his starts.

Manager Terry Francona said that Burns won't make his next start until Sept. 7 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, and the Reds intend to monitor his innings and pitch counts for the remainder of the season, Joe Danneman of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Though he had no formal restrictions in place over his first 26 starts of the season, Burns will have his workload managed the rest of the way since he's already amassed 145.1 innings in 2026, surpassing his 2025 total by more than 30 innings. More specifically, Francona mentioned that he plans to have Brandon Williamson (shoulder) -- who is set to return from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday against the Padres -- piggyback the 23-year-old Burns whenever the latter's turn in the rotation comes up in September. With a 65-72 record, the Reds are well removed from the wild-card picture, so ensuring the long-term health of their young ace will take on added import over the final month of a non-contending season.

Molina will start Monday's game in Atlanta, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Molina began the season in the Atlanta organization before the Giants acquired him Aug. 2. After being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento last week, Molina made his team debut in long relief Tuesday, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over the Reds. He tossed 52 pitches in that outing, so Molina could have his workload capped at around 60-to-75 pitches as he makes his third career big-league start and first as a member of the Giants.

The Giants optioned Wilkinson and recalled him from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

Designated as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Diamondbacks, Wilkinson ended up coming up from Sacramento start the first game of the twin bill. Despite taking a loss and dropping to 0-2 through his three big-league starts, Wilkinson turned in a credible performance, striking out four batters over six innings while limiting Arizona to two earned runs on three hits and two walks. Even with San Francisco paring its active roster back to 26 men following the doubleheader, Wilkinson will stick around with the big club after reliever Sam Hentges (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. The rookie left-hander could be called upon to make another start during the Giants' series with the Mets at Citi Field during the upcoming weekend.