MLB Player News

The White Sox optioned Burke to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Burke has posted a disappointing 4.28 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 117.2 innings this season and had failed to go five frames in four of his last five outings. The White Sox remain hopeful that Burke will be a long-term fixture in their rotation, but the righty will attempt to work on his issues in a less pressurized environment for now. Martin Perez will likely slide into Chicago's rotation in Burke's place.

Horton was removed from his start in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Brewers midway through the third inning due to an apparent blister on his pitching hand, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. He struck out three batters and gave up one run on four hits and one walk over 2.2 frames prior to departing the contest.

The Cubs will likely provide clarity later Monday regarding whether Horton was battling a blister or some other kind of health concern, but the rookie was pulled from the contest after he was visited twice on the mound by Craig Counsell and a team trainer and on an another occasion by pitching coach Tommy Hottovy. Prior to Monday's twin bill, Horton had been the Cubs' top performing starter since the All-Star break, having posted a microscopic 0.32 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 28.1 innings over his last five starts. After exiting with a 1-0 deficit, Horton will be on the hook for his fourth loss of the season if the Cubs are unable to tie the game or take the lead at any point in the remainder of the contest.

Reds manager Terry Francona said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Burns (elbow) will resume a throwing program Monday.

Burns landed on the 15-day injured list Friday after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right flexor strain, but the fact that the rookie has already been cleared to throw backs up the Reds' optimism that the righty is not facing an extended absence. When Burns returns from the IL, he could be deployed in relief, as the Reds have a bevy of other rotation options and also want to manage the 22-year-old's workload.

Cunningham (undisclosed) walked three batters over 1.1 scoreless innings in his start Wednesday for High-A Hudson Valley after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.

Cunningham didn't require a rehab assignment at a lower level of the minors prior to being activated, but because he hadn't pitched for Hudson Valley since June 4 due to an unspecified injury, he was on a limited workload Wednesday. The right-hander was able to escape the outing with any damage, but his control was far from on point, as he spotted just 15 of his 30 pitches for strikes. For the season, Cunningham owns a 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB over 48 innings for Hudson Valley.

The Orioles announced that Eflin underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery Monday in Florida, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Eflin's surgery appears to have gone off without any complications, and the right-hander is optimistic that he'll have a normal offseason after about 12 weeks and rest and rehab. In total, Eflin will face an estimated recovery timeline of 4-to-8 months, so he could be at risk of missing spring training and the start of the 2026 season if he veers toward the latter end of that range. Eflin, who went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings in his 14 starts with the Orioles before landing on the injured list July 31, is set to become a free agent this winter.

Tong gave up three hits and two walks over 5.2 scoreless innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. He struck out nine.

The MiLB strikeout leader kept on racking up whiffs in his Triple-A debut. Tong has a stunning 1.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 171:46 K:BB through 107.2 innings on the season between Double-A and Triple-A, and while the fact that the 2022 seventh-round pick isn't on the 40-man roster might delay his big-league debut until 2026, he appears to have little left to prove in the minors.

Megill (elbow) struck out nine batters over 3.1 scoreless innings in a rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Sunday. He allowed just one hit without walking a batter.

The right-hander was simply too much for Eastern League hitters, firing 39 of 55 pitches for strikes in his second rehab appearance. Megill hasn't pitched for the Mets since June 14 due to an elbow sprain, so he'll need at least one more start in the minors before potentially being an option for the big-league rotation, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he gets two more while the team takes a look at top prospect Nolan McLean. Over five innings for Binghamton on his rehab stint, Megill hasn't given up a run while posting a 13:1 K:BB.

The Cubs optioned Assad to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Assad permitted five runs on 13 hits and two walks over eight innings in his two starts with the big club. He will cede his rotation spot to Jameson Taillon (calf), who will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make a start at some point during the Cubs' five-game series with the Brewers that opens Monday with a doubleheader.

The Brewers recalled Patrick from Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Patrick is the Brewers' designated 27th man for Monday's doubleheader against the Cubs and will start the second game of the twin bill at Wrigley Field. The rookie right-hander was squeezed out of the Brewers rotation last month but has pitched well for the big club, posting a 3.52 ERA and 95:30 K:BB over 94.2 frames covering 18 starts and one relief outing.

Garcia (elbow) struck out six and allowed one earned run on six hits and one walk over 4.2 innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Garcia has been built up slowly during his rehab assignment, which began July 7 in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and has included seven starts over four affiliates in total. The right-hander looks to be rapidly closing in on a return from the 60-day injured list, as he's looked sharp over his three outings since moving his assignment to Sugar Land. Over those starts, Garcia has turned in a 3.18 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB in 11.1 innings. After Garcia got stretched out to 77 pitches in Wednesday's start, Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that the 28-year-old will likely require just one more appearance in the minors before coming off the IL, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Brown added that Lance McCullers (finger) is on track to beat Garcia back from the IL, but the Astros could have starting spots available for both pitchers if they elect to move Jason Alexander or Spencer Arrighetti to the bullpen and expand the rotation to six men. Garcia last pitched in the big leagues May 1, 2023, as he underwent Tommy John surgery later that month and then hit some snags in the recovery process that have further delayed him.