MLB Player News

Sale (10-6) earned the win against the Rangers on Friday, allowing two hits while striking out six across seven scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.

The veteran southpaw was sharp in Atlanta's first game since the All-Star break. He limited the Rangers to just two hits and retired 13 straight batters from the third to seventh frames, ending his night with 16 whiffs on just 89 total pitches. It was the 11th quality start of the season for Sale, whose 2.06 ERA (across 105 innings) is third best among qualified starters in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (1.62) and Cam Schlittler (2.05). Sale is lined up to face the Padres at home next week.

Chapman (abdomen) was cleared to begin a swinging progression Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Chapman has been sidelined by an abdominal strain since the beginning of July. It's a good sign that he's begun taking swings, though the Giants have already ruled him out for the duration of their current road trip. The door remains open for him to return to the starting nine next Friday when the team returns home to face the Angels.

Frelick was removed from Friday's game against the Marlins due to right shoulder soreness, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Frelick went 0-for-1 at the plate before his shoulder forced him out of the game in the fifth inning. The severity of his injury is still unknown, but the Brewers could issue another update on his status in the near future. If his absence extends into Saturday, Luis Lara would be the next man up to start in right field for Milwaukee.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Palencia (elbow) is hopeful to return to the Cubs' bullpen in mid-August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Counsell noted that Palencia has been slow to progress through his rehab program, as he's had to repeat a few steps along the way, so his absence could potentially extend into late August or September if he continues to show minimal progress. In the meantime, Jacob Webb and Trent Thornton will be in the mix for saves in Chicago.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that the Cubs expect Cabrera (hamstring) to return from the injured list in the second week of August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

A left hamstring strain sent Cabrera to the IL on June 24, and he was cleared to start up a throwing program about a week before the All-Star break. He still has several hurdles to clear, but barring any setbacks, he should return to Chicago's rotation in time to contribute toward the team's postseason push.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Milner (abdomen) will likely return from the injured list sometime around Aug. 1, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Milner has been out since late June after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, but he appears to be in line to return well within the 4-to-6-week timeline he received after his procedure. The 35-year-old southpaw has put up a 3.53 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 35.2 innings this season.

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Taillon (hamstring) will return from the injured list during the Cubs' upcoming series against the Tigers, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It's still unknown exactly which game of the series Taillon will start, but the Cubs should announce their pitching plans later this weekend. The 34-year-old righty has been on the shelf since June 9 due to a strained left hamstring but was cleared to begin pitching in minor-league games July 5. He gave up just one walk and one hit while striking out three batters in 4.2 shutout innings during his most recent outing at Triple-A Iowa but threw just 53 pitches, so he could have a workload restriction in place while he makes his second-half debut.

Henriquez (elbow) began playing catch from 60 feet out Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Henriquez has already been ruled out for the entirety of the 2026 campaign after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery in the offseason, but the fact that he's now playing catch is an encouraging sign of progress. Assuming his rehab continues smoothly, he should be ready for the start of spring training in 2027.

Bender (shin) was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Bender has been on the shelf since the end of June due to a stress reaction in his right shin. He remains without a definitive timeline to return to Miami's bullpen, though his return to activity is certainly a positive sign.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Soroka (glute) is in line to return from the injured list sometime around early August, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

The plan is for Soroka to throw a couple more bullpen sessions Saturday and Tuesday before pitching in a simulated game the following Saturday (July 25). The D-backs have already confirmed the right-hander will make at least one rehab start before returning to the big-league rotation, which will push his next start with Arizona into next month. An exact date for his second-half debut will likely emerge as he continues to check off boxes in his throwing program.