Cortes (biceps) is scheduled to face live hitters Friday at the Padres' facility in Arizona, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Cortes has thrown multiple bullpen sessions since landing on the injured list Sept. 5 due to left biceps tendinitis and is now ready to take the next step in the recovery process by facing hitters. Assuming Friday's workout goes well, Cortes will likely be activated from the IL for the final week of the regular season. Cortes doesn't tentatively line up for a start next week, but with the likelihood that the Padres' playoff positioning will be solidified ahead of their final series next weekend versus the Diamondbacks, Acee speculates that Nick Pivetta won't be asked to start against Arizona. As a result, the Padres could turn to Cortes to make a 3-to-4-inning start or bulk-relief appearance at some point during the series.

Skenes (10-10) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.2 innings as the Pirates were downed 4-1 by the Cubs. He struck out six.

The young right-hander hurt his Cy Young case with his shortest outing of the season, one that got off to an ominous start when Michael Busch led off the game with a solo homer. Despite the stumble, Skenes still leads the NL in strikeouts (209) and ERA (2.03) and sits third in innings with 181.2, and his 0.96 WHIP is second only to the Padres' Nick Pivetta (0.95). Skenes lines up to make one more start before the end of the season, on the road in Cincinnati next week.

Horton (11-4) allowed just one run on three hits across five innings to earn the win in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Pirates. He walked one and struck out six.

Horton outdueled Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes, who allowed three runs in just 3.2 innings of work. The Chicago rookie hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last 11 starts, and he has a dazzling 0.93 ERA during that stretch. Overall, Horton has a 2.66 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 115 innings this season, which makes him a strong contender for the National League Rookie of the Year award at the end of the year. The 24-year-old lines up to take the hill again Sunday against the Reds.

Gore came away with a no-decision in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta, allowing two hits and three walks over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Matched up against fellow left-handed ace Chris Sale, Gore rose to the occasion, tossing 56 of 92 pitches for strikes before leaving the mound in a 0-0 tie that wasn't decided until the 10th inning. Gore hasn't seemed overly affected by the bout of shoulder inflammation that sidelined him briefly in early September, and through two outings since coming off the IL he's given up two runs in 10.1 innings with a 9:5 K:BB. He'll look for his first win since Aug. 10 in his final start of 2025, a rematch with Atlanta on the road early next week.

Irvin (8-13) took the loss in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta, coughing up five runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.

All five runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning as the right-hander blew an early 2-0 lead, with the bad frame including homers off the bats of Jurickson Profar and Matt Olson. Irvin hasn't won a game since late July, dropping eight straight decisions while posting a horrific 9.00 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 27:18 K:BB over his last nine starts and 42 innings. He's likely to make one more trip to the mound before mercifully putting his 2025 season to bed, lining up for a rematch against Atlanta on the road early next week.

Sale came away with a no-decision in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, scattering three hits over eight scoreless innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The ace southpaw racked up 32 called or swinging strikes over 106 pitches (71 total strikes) in a dominant performance, but MacKenzie Gore and the Washington bullpen matched Sale goose egg for goose egg, until Atlanta finally broke through for five runs in the 10th inning. Sale has fanned exactly nine batters in four straight starts since returning from a rib injury, posting a 1.75 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 36:2 K:BB through 25.2 innings. He'll look to finish out the season in style with a potential two-step, beginning early next week with a home rematch against the Nats.

Peralta (17-6) earned the win Tuesday, allowing a run on two hits and two walks over six innings against the Angels. He struck out 10.

Peralta was excellent Tuesday, with the only damage against him coming via a solo homer by Denzer Guzman in the fifth inning. The victory is the right-hander's 17th of the season, tying Max Fried for the MLB lead and continuing to improve his career high. Peralta has been dominant all year, carrying a 2.65 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 31 starts and 169.2 innings.

Sanchez allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out six without walking a batter over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Sanchez gave up three runs in the second inning and one more in the fourth. The Phillies' offense couldn't get anything going early on, as Shohei Ohtani threw five no-hit innings, but the Dodgers' bullpen was far less formidable. Sanchez has allowed a total of seven runs over his last 27 innings and is now at a 2.66 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 198:43 K:BB through 189.1 innings across 30 starts this season. He's tentatively projected for a home start versus the Marlins next week, which would be his last of the regular season if the Phillies continue to roll with a six-man rotation.

Rodriguez allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Tuesday.

Rodriguez had logged wins and quality starts in three straight outings before this poor showing. The Giants rallied for four runs in the first inning, and Wilmer Flores added a solo shot in the third, but the Diamondbacks had the game tied in the fifth to make it a no-decision for Rodriguez. The southpaw's recent improvements have partially made up for an up-and-down season -- he's posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 132:56 K:BB through 142.1 innings over 27 starts. He's lined up to make his next start at home versus the Dodgers.

Freeland (4-16) allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out one over 5.2 innings to take the loss versus the Marlins.

Freeland hadn't allowed six runs in a start since Aug. 6 versus the Blue Jays. He was fading in the sixth inning when a rain delay occurred, bringing his start to a close at 73 pitches (52 strikes). The veteran southpaw is now at a 5.14 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 113:36 K:BB through 150.2 innings across 29 starts this season. He's projected for a home start versus the Angels over the weekend.