MLB Player News

Marquez (8-10) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four in seven innings to earn the win over the Reds during the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Marquez has now posted quality starts in five of his last six outings, but Sunday's win was just the second that he's earned across that span. He was particularly efficient during Sunday's matinee, as he required just 87 pitches to get through seven innings. The right-hander has posted a 3.55 ERA in 38 innings over his last six starts, and he tentatively lines up to make his next turn through the rotation at home against the Diamondbacks next weekend.

Gray (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday in New York, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

If his sore right hamstring responds well to the throwing workout, Gray should get the green light to make his next turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Yankees. He was lifted after four innings during his last outing Friday versus the White Sox when his hamstring began to act up.

Steele (back) won't make a start during the Cubs' three-game home series with the Reds that begins Tuesday, Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Steele hasn't pitched since experiencing back soreness coming out of his Aug. 26 start in Milwaukee. He missed out on a start in Toronto last week while he was on the restricted list, and even though he was added back to the active roster Thursday, the Cubs aren't yet comfortable with having him slot back into the rotation. Wade Miley (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday to start the series opener with Cincinnati, giving Steele a few more days to ramp up and move past the injury. If all goes well, Steele could be an option to make a start during the Cubs' series with the Giants over the upcoming weekend.

The Cubs will activate Miley (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and have him start Tuesday's game against the Reds, Elise Menaker of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Even though Miley tossed only 3.2 innings and 54 pitches last Wednesday after restarting his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa following a two-week break, the Cubs were comfortable enough with what they saw from the lefty to bring him back from the IL. Miley will be making just his fifth start of the season for the Cubs in what will mark his first outing in the big leagues since June 10, and there's a good chance he's on a limited pitch count in his return to action.

Urquidy (13-5) earned the win during Sunday's 9-1 victory over the Angels, allowing four hits and one walk while recording eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.

Urquidy was staked to an early 5-0 lead and was able to work around jams in the third and seventh innings to deliver his first scoreless outing in five turns. The 27-year-old fired 73 of 111 pitches for strikes with 16 whiffs en route to his fifth start with at least eight strikeouts this year. With the successful performance, Urquidy lowered his ERA to 3.51 while posting a 1.12 WHIP with 117 strikeouts in 146 innings. He's scheduled for a rematch against the Angels at home next weekend.

Alexander (2-2) took the loss during Sunday's 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Diamondbacks, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Alexander struggled with traffic on the bases each inning but was able to limit the damage to single runs in the second, third and fifth innings. The 29-year-old struggled to find the zone as he issued a season-high four free passes and tossed only 47 of 86 pitches for strikes. Alexander carries a 5.03 ERA and 1.58 WHIP into his next start, slated for next weekend against Cincinnati.

Lively (elbow) returned from Triple-A Louisville's 7-day injured list Tuesday and gave up four earned runs on three hits and one walk while recording two outs.

Lively was back in action for Louisville for the first time since the second half of June after missing more than two months with a strained elbow. The 30-year-old right-hander turned in a 3.77 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 62 innings over 13 starts prior to landing on the IL, but the time Lively missed could hurt his chances of earning a late-season call-up to Cincinnati.

Fried (13-5) earned the victory Sunday against Miami, striking out six and walking one in five scoreless, no-hit innings.

Fried faced the minimum in his five innings, erasing a fifth-inning walk with an inning-ending double play. A lengthy rain delay following the top of the fifth ended his outing with just 66 pitches thrown. The lefty has thrown at least five innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 straight starts and has a 2.07 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 74:15 K:BB with only two homers allowed in 82.2 innings in that span. His next start will likely be next weekend in Seattle.

Urena (3-6) allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out just one over 5.1 innings, taking the loss in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Reds.

Urena allowed the Reds to piece together a five-run rally in the fourth inning, though a Ryan McMahon throwing error didn't help the cause. In the sixth, the Reds started building again before manager Bud Black went to the bullpen. Urena was responsible for two of the Reds' five runs in the sixth. This was the fifth time in his last nine outings that the 30-year-old righty has allowed at least four earned runs. He has a 6.13 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 38:34 K:BB through 69 innings across 16 outings (12 starts) between the Rockies and the Brewers this year. Urena is projected for a home start versus Arizona next weekend.

Lopez (8-9) allowed two runs on five hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out seven in four innings in a 7-1 loss Sunday in Atlanta.

Lopez was removed after four innings thanks to a nearly two-hour rain delay after the top of the fifth. A third-inning sacrifice fly and Marcell Ozuna's solo shot in the fourth accounted for the runs against him. His seven punchouts were the most batters he's fanned in a start since July 26. Since the All-Star break, he's 2-5 with a 5.48 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and seven homers allowed in 46 innings across nine outings. His next start will likely be next weekend at home against the Mets.