MLB Player News

Mikolas (4-6) took the loss against the Cubs on Friday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and no walks with four strikeouts over six innings.

Mikolas surrendered a staggering six home runs over the first three innings but did manage to complete six frames. The 36-year-old has now allowed at least one long ball in six consecutive outings, a stretch that includes two quality starts but also three in which he's given up six or more earned runs. He'll take a 5.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 60:20 K:BB across 87.1 innings into a home matchup with the Nationals next week.

Hoskins is out of the starting lineup Friday versus Miami.

Hoskins isn't starting for the second time in the past four games while in the midst of a 3-for-22 stretch at the plate. Jake Bauers is taking Hoskins' spot at first base Friday.

Rea (6-3) earned the win against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Rea surrendered just one hit, a solo home run in the fourth inning, despite generating only six swinging strikes on 97 pitches. The 35-year-old notched his fourth quality start of the season and second in his last four outings, though that stretch also includes a seven-run blowup against Seattle on June 22. He'll carry a 4.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 60:21 K:BB across 85 innings into a road matchup with the Twins next week.

Swanson went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 11-3 win over the Cardinals.

Swanson singled and scored in the third inning before crushing a 423-foot homer in the seventh. The shortstop has hit safely in nine of his past 10 games, recording five multi-hit efforts, three RBI and seven runs scored in that span. For the season, he's slashing .254/.304/.436 with 15 home runs, 42 RBI, 50 runs scored and seven steals across 366 plate appearances.

Pomeranz is slated to serve as the Cubs' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

Chicago has a hole in its rotation after Jameson Taillon (calf) landed on the 15-day injured list Friday. Jordan Wicks was called up from Triple-A on Friday to take Taillon's roster spot, and he could pitch in bulk relief behind Pomeranz, though the Cubs haven't confirmed their plans for when the latter exits the contest. Pomeranz has worked as an opener twice this season and tossed exactly one inning both times, so he should be expected to see about the same workload this time around.

Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-4 with two solo home runs and two additional runs scored in Friday's 11-3 win over the Cardinals.

Crow-Armstrong was perfect at the plate, highlighted by solo home runs in the first and third innings. After going 0-for-11 in a three-game set against Houston to close June, the All-Star starter has opened July with three multi-hit efforts in four games. For the season, he's slashing .274/.309/.559 with 23 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored and 26 steals across 366 plate appearances.

Busch went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI in Friday's 11-3 win over the Cardinals.

Busch went deep in the second, third and seventh innings, marking his first career three-homer game and the second multi-homer effort of his young career. The first baseman finished June with a stellar .309/.385/.617 slash line and has opened July with eight hits over four games. For the season, he's slashing .288/.373/.546 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 41 runs scored and four steals across 308 plate appearances.

Doyle isn't in the starting lineup against the White Sox on Friday.

It's the second time in Colorado's past three games that Doyle will begin on the bench, though he's reached safely in six of his past seven contests and has driven in three runs during that span. Mickey Moniak is getting a start in center field Friday, and Tyler Freeman is starting in right.

Castellanos went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 9-6 loss to the Reds.

Castellanos put the Phillies up 3-0 early with a two-run homer in the first inning and later added an RBI on a forceout in the third. Over his past 10 games, the 33-year-old has hit safely seven times with three home runs, eight RBI and three runs scored. For the season, he's slashing .278/.321/.450 with 11 long balls, 49 RBI, 39 runs and two steals across 358 plate appearances.

Steer went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 9-6 win over the Phillies.

Steer reached base in each of his first four plate appearances, highlighted by a two-run double that gave the Reds a 5-3 lead in the third inning. The 27-year-old has now hit safely in 12 of his past 14 games, collecting eight multi-hit efforts along with five home runs, 15 RBI, 11 runs scored and two steals. The recent surge has lifted his season slash line to .256/.313/.413 with 10 homers, 37 RBI, 37 runs scored and six stolen bases across 319 plate appearances.