MLB Player News

Wheeler will not make a start during this weekend's series with the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Both Cristopher Sanchez and Wheeler will not start during the upcoming three-game series against the Mets, as Philadelphia will throw Aaron Nola on Thursday followed by Jesus Luzardo and Alan Rangel on Saturday and Sunday. By doing so, Sanchez and Wheeler will be lined up to start the first two games of next week's three-game series against the Dodgers. Wheeler went 10-1 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 108:22 K:BB across 93 innings prior to the All-Star break.

Sanchez will not make a start during this weekend's series with the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Philadelphia will start Aaron Nola on Thursday followed by Jesus Luzardo and Alan Rangel on Saturday and Sunday. By pushing Sanchez and Zack Wheeler back in the rotation, it will allow the duo to start the first two games of next week's three-game set with the Dodgers. Firmly in the mix for the NL Cy Young award, Sanchez pitched to an 11-4 record, 2.62 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 144:25 K:BB during the first half of the season. He also started the All-Star Game for the National League but was roughed up for three runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in his lone inning.

The Brewers acquired McCullers (shoulder), Colton Gordon and cash considerations from the Astros on Wednesday in exchange for Jadyn Fielder.

It's a salary dump for Houston, who is getting out from most of the remainder of the final year of McCullers' five-year, $85 million deal. McCullers hasn't pitched with Houston since May 15 due to a shoulder impingement, but the right-hander is winding down a rehab assignment and should join Milwaukee's staff sooner than later. It's another reclamation project for the Brewers, as McCullers has pitched to a 6.65 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 5.8 BB/9 across 94.2 innings since the start of the 2025 season after missing the entire 2023 and 2024 campaigns due to injuries.

The Astros are in the process of finalizing a trade that will send McCullers (shoulder) to the Brewers on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers has been on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement since mid-May, but he's made three minor-league rehab starts and may only require one more rehab outing before getting cleared for big-league action. The veteran right-hander is in the final season of the five-year, $85 million extension he signed with the Astros in 2021 and has full no-trade protection, though he's apparently already approved the potential trade, per McTaggart. After missing the full 2023 and 2024 campaigns due to arm issues, McCullers returned to the mound last year and struggled to a 6.51 ERA in 16 regular-season appearances, and he posted similar numbers before landing on the injured list this year. The full terms of the trade may not be disclosed until it's finalized.

Taillon (hamstring) struck out three and allowed one hit and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Iowa.

Making the second start of his rehab assignment, Taillon built up to 53 pitches (34 strikes) and posted an excellent Called Strikes plus Whiffs rate of 32.1 percent. According to MLB.com, Taillon is slated to throw during the All-Star break, and if the Cubs' coaching and training staffs are satisfied with how he looks, the veteran right-hander should rejoin the big-league rotation to begin the second half. Taillon has been on the shelf since June 9 due to a left hamstring strain.

Williams (elbow) struck out five and allowed one unearned run on one hit and one walk across two innings Tuesday in a rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Williams has now made four rehab starts since his 30-day window opened June 28, but he has yet to reach three innings in any of those appearances. Though the veteran right-hander has worked primarily as a starter during his big-league career, the lighter workloads he's handled two and a half weeks into his rehab assignment suggest that the Nationals could be preparing for him to handle a multi-inning role out of the bullpen once he returns from the 60-day injured list. Williams has been on the shelf all season while completing his recovery from internal brace surgery, which he underwent last July.

Knack struck out two and allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks across three innings in relief Saturday in the Dodgers' 9-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

After being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Saturday following a lengthy recovery from an intercostal strain, Knack was put to work right away in the Dodgers' penultimate game of the first half. With starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting chased from the contest after five innings, Knack mopped up in long relief, needing 60 pitches to record his nine outs. The right-hander made 19 starts at the big-league level over the previous two seasons, but he looks like he'll have to settle for a bullpen role unless another injury creates an opening in the Dodgers' six-man rotation.

McCullough (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

McCullough made four rehab appearances while working his way back from season-ending surgery, posting a 4.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 17 strikeouts over 12.2 innings in two showings in the Arizona Complex League and two with Single-A Myrtle Beach. He was reinstated from the 60-day IL on Sunday and looked strong in his first appearance of the year with Double-A Knoxville later that day, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out four in four frames.

Burns will not play in Tuesday's All-Star Game due to a right groin injury he suffered during his last start Wednesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Burns, who labored through five innings and 106 pitches, was injured while covering home plate on a wild pitch. The right-hander said he didn't feel anything wrong while on the mound for the rest of the game but felt tightness the following day. He huddled with manager Terry Francona and the front office and decided it was best to not represent the National League in the midsummer classic. There has been no mention of imaging, which suggests the 23-year-old could return following the All-Star break.

Smith (shoulder) was activated from the 7-day injured list Sunday.

Smith made two rehab appearances at High-A Winston-Salem earlier this month, where he allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while fanning eight over 4.2 innings. He was activated from the injured list Sunday and made a start for Triple-A Charlotte later that same day, surrendering one run on three hits and one walk while collecting five strikeouts across four frames.