MLB Player News

Conine went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a double, three walks and two additional runs scored in Wednesday's 8-2 victory over the Pirates.

Conine reached safely each time he came to the plate Wednesday, with the highlight of his night a towering home run to center field off former Marlin Lake Bachar. The 29-year-old has homered three times in the last three games and has been swinging a hot bat since the All-Star break, posting a 1.025 OPS with eight homers, 15 RBI, 13 runs and 11 walks across 84 plate appearances in that span.

Junk (6-7) earned the win Wednesday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out two over six innings.

Wednesday marked Junk's longest start since returning from a shin injury that cost him over a month earlier in the summer. Having worked only three innings due to a rain delay in his prior outing, Junk's arm was lively Wednesday, and he fired 56 of his 81 pitches for strikes. The right-hander now has a 3.83 ERA at home compared to a 5.35 road figure, and he lines up to make his next start against the Phillies next week.

Mlodzinski (6-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings in an 8-2 loss to the Marlins. He struck out one.

Mlodzinski has only pitched 5.1 innings and has given up nine runs in his first two starts since May 25. With Mitch Keller (arm) shut down for the rest of the season, Mlodzinski clearly hasn't been able to capitalize on the recent pair of starting opportunities that development has afforded him. Despite the consecutive rocky outings, the right-hander is likely to remain in the rotation and make his next start next week versus the Tigers.

Assad secured the save against the Nationals on Wednesday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out three.

After the Cubs built a 9-5 lead in the sixth inning, Assad closed it out for Chicago on Wednesday to help give other members of the bullpen a respite. The right-hander has a quality 3.59 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 53:21 K:BB with two saves in as many chances over 80.1 innings this season (10 starts), and he should remain a swingman as opposed to a consistent high-leverage option.

Burleson went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Phillies.

The two-bagger was Burleson's MLB-leading 30th of the season, and it brought home two runs as part of a fifth-inning rally that broke open a 1-1 tie. Burleson has been an RBI machine in August, batting .342 (13-for-38) through 11 games with three doubles, four homers, eight runs and 13 RBI.

Yastrzemski went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a double in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Mets.

Yastrzemski entered the game in the seventh inning and launched a solo homer before adding a double in the eighth. The 35-year-old has been sharing time with newly acquired Lane Thomas, but he's posted a strong .917 OPS with eight extra-base hits over 19 games since the All-Star break. On the season, he's slashing .234/.318/.401 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, 40 runs scored and a stolen base across 305 plate appearances.

Leahy (9-4) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits over five innings in a 7-1 victory over the Phillies. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander tossed 57 of 81 pitches for strikes as he outlasted opposing starter Zack Wheeler, who fell apart in the fifth inning. Leahy has given up two runs or fewer in an impressive nine straight starts, going 4-0 over that stretch while delivering a 1.52 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 46:9 K:BB over 47.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Cincinnati.

Wheeler (10-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Phillies fell 7-1 to the Cardinals, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.

Things unraveled for Wheeler in the fifth, as St. Louis rattled off four straight two-out hits to break open a 1-1 tie, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker. The veteran righty exited after 84 pitches (53 strikes) as he lost his third straight decision since the All-Star break, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 6.05 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB over 22.1 innings and five starts. Wheeler will look to get back on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Marlins.

Lowder (4-8) allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the White Sox on Wednesday.

Lowder has allowed eight runs over 22.1 innings across his last four starts, but he has just one win in that span. The 24-year-old threw 59 of 94 pitches for strikes Wednesday and has had mixed results throughout the year, posting a 5.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 77:40 K:BB through 94.1 innings over 21 games (18 starts). His recent work has been mostly effective -- he's given up more than two runs just once in eight appearances since the beginning of July. Lowder's next outing is projected to be at home versus the Cardinals.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and two runs scored in Wednesday's 12-6 win over the Nationals. He also stole two bases.

Ramirez was active Wednesday, recording his second career two-steal game and his seventh stolen base this season in seven attempts. The rookie is having a strong debut with the Cubs, though consistent playing time may be an issue down the stretch. Alex Bregman, who tallied a career-best three home runs and seven RBI in Wednesday's win, is entrenched at third base, and Tyrone Taylor came over at the trade deadline to give the team another option off the bench.