MLB Player News

King (8-9) took the loss Wednesday as the Padres fell 4-2 to the Mets, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

A two-run home run by Carson Benge in the fourth inning was the only real blemish on King's line for the afternoon, but the right-hander left the mound with the Friars down 2-1 and saw his two-start win streak snapped. King has been on a roll since the beginning of July, producing quality starts in six of his nine outings with a 3.08 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 45:19 K:BB over 52.2 innings. He'll look for more run support in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Pirates.

Holmes (5-6) took the loss Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing a run on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out one.

It was a strong outing overall for Holmes, who's now given up just one run over 12 innings in his last two starts. However, he'd wind up with the loss Wednesday, as the Cubs failed to provide any support offensively in a 3-0 defeat. Overall, Holmes sports a 2.49 ERA across 12 starts (68.2 innings) between the Cubs and Mets this season with a 1.11 WHIP and 50:23 K:BB. He's currently lined up to face the Mariners on the road his next time out.

Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Tigers, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

The 24-year-old right-hander was on the hook for his 12th loss of the season until the Pirates rallied to walk it off in the ninth. Skenes has failed to last longer than five frames in four straight starts, and he's failed to complete six frames in six of his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.00 ERA and 1.44 WHIP despite a 48:18 K:BB over 36 innings. Skenes will try to turn things around in his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week in San Diego.

The Giants selected Wilkinson's contract from Triple-A Sacramento ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Cleveland, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Wilkinson will be making his MLB debut against the organization that selected him in the 10th round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft before dealing him to the Giants back in May as part of the return package for catcher Patrick Bailey. A 23-year-old lefty, Wilkinson compiled a 3.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 18.4 K-BB% in 90 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season. The Giants haven't clarified their rotation plans beyond this week, but Wilkinson could be in store for additional starts over the next five weeks, especially if he acquits himself well Wednesday.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Peterson will "be involved" in the pitching plan for Saturday's game in Seattle, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

With Edward Cabrera (finger) landing back on the 15-day injured list after just one start with the big club, a spot in the Chicago rotation has reopened. Peterson ended up losing his spot in the rotation when Cabrera returned this past weekend, but the former looks poised to slot back in either as a traditional starter or bulk reliever Saturday. The southpaw has logged a 4.06 ERA and 32:17 K:BB over 44.1 innings covering eight starts and one relief appearance for the Cubs.

Cijntje (hamstring) is listed as Triple-A Memphis' starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against Jacksonville.

Cijntje battled a right hamstring injury during his previous start Thursday, but it doesn't look like it will keep him from making his next turn through the Triple-A rotation. Since being promoted from Double-A Springfield to Memphis on July 15, Cijntje has submitted a 6.29 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 24.1 innings over five starts.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Steele (elbow) is close to being cleared to face hitters, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Steele had UCL revision surgery last May and was nearing a rehab assignment when he suffered a flexor strain in late April. He resumed throwing off the mound Aug. 1 and is nearly ready to face hitters, presumably in a live batting practice session. Steele won't have enough time to ramp up for a starter's workload, but he has a chance to help the Cubs as a reliever in September.

Cortes (biceps) agreed Wednesday with the Phillies on a major-league contract, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The 31-year-old southpaw had been unsigned since the end of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery in October to repair a tendon tear in his throwing arm, but he's made a full recovery from the procedure and recently threw for multiple teams. He'll elect to continue his career with the Phillies, who didn't add to their rotation ahead of trade deadline and are lacking in dependable arms beyond their elite trio of starters (Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo). Cortes will first report to the Phillies' Single-A affiliate in Clearwater, but once he's stretched out enough to handle five innings, he could supplant Andrew Painter (6.43 ERA, 1.55 WHIP over 85.1 innings) as the Phillies' No. 5 starter.

Wheeler didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Marlins, giving up two runs on two hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out seven.

While he had trouble finding the plate consistently and threw only 57 of 98 pitches for strikes, Wheeler didn't allow much hard contact aside from a Griffin Conine solo shot in the second inning. The seven Ks were his highest total since July 21, but the three-time All-Star remains winless since the All-Star break, going 0-3 in six outings with a 5.60 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB through 27.1 innings. Wheeler will look to get back in the win column in his next start, which is set to come on the road early next week in Seattle.

Abbott (6-8) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 6.1 innings as the Reds were downed 3-0 by the Cardinals. He struck out six.

The southpaw delivered his 11th quality start of the season on 98 pitches (68 strikes) in his best effort so far in August, tying his career high in QS in the process, but Cincinnati's offense couldn't solve Kyle Leahy and the St. Louis bullpen. Abbott has won just one of his last 10 starts, going 1-4 over that stretch with a 4.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 44:27 K:BB in 54.2 innings. He'll look to build on this performance in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Arizona.