MLB Player News

The Cubs recalled Brown from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Brown is a candidate to eat up some innings in a bulk relief role Monday versus the Royals behind opening pitcher Ryan Brasier. He's posted a 6.13 ERA in 14 starts and two relief appearances with the Cubs this season, though he's racked up 91 strikeouts across his 79.1 frames.

Kolek has joined the Padres' taxi squad and will be called up from Triple-A El Paso to start Tuesday's game in Miami, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Kolek will slide into the fifth slot in the Padres rotation, although he isn't necessarily guaranteed any more starts beyond Tuesday. The right-hander has made 12 starts for San Diego in 2025, posting a 4.24 ERA and 49:22 K:BB across 68 innings.

Taillon (calf) has been throwing on flat ground and is expected to be cleared for mound work soon, MLB.com reports.

Taillon has been sidelined for the entirety of July with a right calf strain. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said at the time Taillon went down that the pitcher would miss at least a month of action, and given where the righty is at in his throwing progression, it seems likely that he'll require a little more time than that.

The Royals are expected to call Hill up from Triple-A Omaha, and he'll likely pitch Tuesday against the Cubs, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The 45-year-old lefty will become the oldest active player in the majors once he joins the Royals for what will be his 21st season in the big leagues with his 14th different team. The Royals haven't clarified their plans for Hill, but he'll likely start or pitch in bulk relief while essentially operating as the fifth member of their rotation until either of Michael Lorenzen (oblique) or Cole Ragans (shoulder) return from the injured list. After joining the organization on a minor-league deal May 14, Hill reported to Triple-A at the beginning of June and turned in a 5.36 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 48:25 K:BB in 42 innings with Omaha. He had pitched more effectively over his last two outings, however, striking out 11 while allowing one earned run in seven innings.

The Mets announced that Blackburn (shoulder) is expected to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

Blackburn is ready for a tougher test after he opened his rehab assignment last Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, where he struck out eight and allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. Though the Mets appear to be letting Blackburn build up as a starter during his rehab assignment, he could be ticketed for a long-relief role once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.

Fried (finger) is in line to start Wednesday's game in Toronto, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Fried developed a blister on his left index finger during his final start before the All-Star break back on July 12 versus the Cubs, but the extended break has seemingly allowed him to move past the issue. After he resumed playing catch shortly after suffering the finger issue, Fried cleared up any lingering concern about his health by tossing a bullpen session in Atlanta over the weekend. The veteran southpaw heads into his start Wednesday having logged an 11-3 record with a 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 122 innings over his first 20 outings of the season.

Blalock is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Cardinals at Coors Field.

Called up from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier this month, Blalock ended up taking over the spot in the rotation that previously belonged to rookie Chase Dollander, who was optioned to the minors following a string of poor performances. Though he had posted a 12.94 ERA and 2.06 WHIP over his first five big-league appearances of the season, Blalock acquitted himself well in his start during the Rockies' final series before the All-Star break, holding the Reds to one earned run on six hits and no walks over 5.2 innings. The right-hander will be rewarded with another turn through the rotation, but he doesn't profile as a dependable streaming option, given his poor overall track record in the majors.

Daniel is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Giants in Atlanta, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Daniel will be making his second straight turn through the Atlanta rotation after he was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 13 to start the big club's final game before the All-Star break. Though he took a no-decision and was limited to just 73 pitches in Atlanta's 5-4 loss to St. Louis, Daniel performed well in the start, striking out five while yielding one earned run on two hits and three walks in four innings. Daniel should be operating with fewer restrictions with his pitch count Tuesday and could stake a more permanent claim to a rotation spot with a strong showing against the Giants.

Cabrera (elbow) will start Tuesday's game against the Padres in Miami, MLB.com reports.

Cabrera experienced elbow discomfort during his final start before the All-Star break July 11 in Baltimore, but an MRI cleared him of any major damage, and he was able to throw without issue Thursday and Sunday. With the long layoff in the Marlins' schedule affording him ample time to recover, Cabrera is unlikely to be operating with any major workload restrictions Tuesday. Before giving up four earned runs in four innings in his most recent start, Cabrera permitted no more than two runs in any of his prior 11 outings and accrued a 2.11 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 60:19 K:BB in 59.2 innings during that stretch.

The Cubs are expected to recall Brown from Triple-A Iowa prior to Monday's game against the Royals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Right-hander Ryan Brasier will open the game on the mound for Chicago, but he'll likely work just one or two innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Rogers speculates that Brown could be tasked with covering multiple frames behind Brasier, though Chris Flexen is also available to work in bulk relief after having not pitched since making a four-inning start versus the Yankees on July 11. The Cubs will have a permanent opening in the rotation until Jameson Taillon (calf) returns from the injured list, but the team could look to the trade market to fill the void ahead of the July 31 deadline rather than counting on Brown to reclaim a starting role. In 16 outings (14 starts) with the Cubs this season, Brown owns a 6.13 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 79.1 innings.