MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cardinals that Wicks will get an MRI for his right oblique and that a stint on the injured list is "likely," Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Wicks was lifted from Friday's game after just 1.2 innings due to right oblique discomfort. He was previously on the injured list due to a left forearm strain that kept him out of action for nearly six weeks. Wicks made two appearances since being activated from the IL on June 7, including Friday's start. Kyle Hendricks came in to replace Wicks on Friday, and he figures to enter the Cubs' rotation.

Freeland (elbow) allowed one run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts during a start at Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Freeland made his second rehab appearance Thursday, but it was his first at the Triple-A level. The lone run against Freeland came on a solo homer. The left-hander is expected to appear in one more rehab game before returning to the Rockies toward the end of June.

Gibson (5-2) earned the win Friday over the Cubs, allowing just two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out six.

Gibson was excellent Friday, turning in a season-high seven innings in his first scoreless outing of the year. The 36-year-old righty has been solid of late, working to a 2.19 ERA over his last five starts. Overall, his ERA is down to 3.44 on the campaign with a 1.20 WHIP and 73:31 K:BB across 83.2 innings. Gibson's currently scheduled to face the Marlins on the road in his next start.

Cavalli (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.

The Nationals pulled Cavalli off his rehab assignment earlier this month, although they referred to it as merely giving the pitcher a break rather than it being a setback as he comes back from Tommy John surgery. Since he's facing hitters again, the righty figures to resume his rehab assignment soon. He could be an option for the Nationals' rotation after the All-Star break.

Wicks had to be lifted from Friday's start versus the Cardinals because of right oblique discomfort, Marquee Sports Network reports.

Wicks recorded just five outs before having to be removed. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said during an in-game interview that the pitcher "felt it pretty good," but the team won't know more until after he's examined following the game. Kyle Hendricks replaced Wicks on Friday and is the obvious candidate to move into the rotation if the young southpaw needs to miss time, which seems likely.

Wicks was removed from Friday's start against the Cardinals in the second inning with an injury, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Wicks evidently tweaked something while surrendering a Dylan Carlson single with two outs in the second frame. The left-hander recently returned from a flexor strain, although it's not clear at this point whether that's what he might be dealing with again.

Kershaw (shoulder) completed three simulated innings at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, and he could be ready to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.

Kershaw's fastball hit 88-89 mph in the sim game, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, which is in the range of his usual velocity over the past three seasons. Manager Dave Roberts proclaimed the future Hall of Famer to be "much further" along in his recovery than initially expected. Kershaw will almost certainly need to log multiple rehab starts, and the Dodgers are very unlikely to rush him back, but the southpaw could be ready to make his season debut sometime in July.

Wicks is slated to start Friday's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Wicks worked out of the bullpen in last Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Reds following his return from the 15-day injured list, but he'll slot back into the rotation for Friday's series opener after Ben Brown (neck) landed on the IL. Given that he covered 3.1 innings and 52 pitches in his relief outing last weekend, Wicks should be fairly stretched out. Over his five starts prior to landing on the IL in late April, Wicks went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 28:9 K:BB across 23 innings.

Pfaadt (3-5) earned the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over six innings while striking out eight.

Pfaadt allowed the leadoff man to reach base in two of his first three innings, but escaped unscathed via double plays on each occasion. He would then surrender an RBI single to Mickey Moniak in the fourth before going on to log his seventh quality start of the campaign. The right-hander has allowed two or fewer runs in three of his last six outings, going 2-2 over that stretch. Pfaadt's also recorded at least seven strikeouts in four of his last six starts.

Munoz pitched six scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Mets on Thursday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five batters.

Munoz remained in the rotation despite struggling in his previous start, and that decision paid off for Miami as the rookie right-hander recorded the best start of his big-league career. The only hit Munoz allowed was a sixth-inning single by Harrison Bader, and Bader was soon thrown out trying to steal second. Munoz was in line for the win when he departed following that frame, but he had to settle for a no-decision due to a ninth-inning implosion by closer Tanner Scott. Munoz will almost certainly remain in the rotation for the time being given his fantastic outing Wednesday, though he could eventually be pushed back to the minors when Edward Cabrera (shoulder) and Ryan Weathers (finger) are ready to return.