MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Morgan will be shut down from throwing for 2-to-3 weeks after being diagnosed with right elbow neuritis, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's not clear whether that 2-to-3 week clock started last week when Morgan first went on the 15-day injured list, or this week when Counsell was asked about the reliever. Either way, Morgan will not throw for a bit longer and then will have to be built back up, so he figures to be sidelined for several more weeks.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Wednesday that Assad had a setback with his left oblique during Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Assad is headed back to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The right-hander had appeared poised to return soon, perhaps as a member of the Cubs' rotation, but now his status is up in the air. Assad has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings in his two rehab starts.

Bauers will start at first base and bat fifth in Thursday's game against the Giants.

Bauers made the Brewers' Opening Day roster after attending spring training on a minor-league deal, but after making 77 starts in 117 games for Milwaukee in 2024, the 29-year-old has had his playing time scaled back considerably in 2025. He'll be making just his sixth start through the Brewers' first 26 games of the season Thursday, as Milwaukee has leaned much more heavily on Rhys Hoskins at first base and Christian Yelich at designated hitter to cut off Bauers' main paths to playing time. Bauers has produced well in his limited opportunities thus far, popping two home runs and stealing a base while posting a .939 OPS through his first 29 plate appearances.

Chourio is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against San Francisco.

Chourio has been in a bit of a slump lately, going just 6-for-42 and posting a .390 OPS across his last 10 games. He'll take a day to recollect himself Thursday while Christian Yelich starts in left field, putting Rhys Hoskins at the DH spot with Jake Bauers starting at first base.

Durbin isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.

Durbin has gone 6-for-23 with three RBI and four runs scored since making his MLB debut Friday. He'll now get his first day off of the season while Vinny Capra starts at the hot corner and bats eighth.

Contreras isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.

Contreras has logged a base hit in 15 of his last 16 games, but he'll take a seat Thursday for what will be his second day off of the season. Eric Haase will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.

Bailey is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Brewers, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bailey caught each of the first three games of the four-game set against the Brewers, so he'll receive a well-earned day off for Thursday's matinee. Sam Huff will be behind the dish and bat eighth for the Giants.

Flores is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

It's a routine day off for Flores, who has clubbed seven home runs and driven in a major-league-leading 27 runs this season. Heliot Ramos is getting a start at designated hitter Thursday, while Luis Matos is in left field and batting ninth.

Marsh (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Marsh has been sidelined for the past week with a right hamstring strain but has improved enough to test things out in game action. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks, he should be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Sunday.

The Brewers optioned Hudson to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

Hudson will head to the minors after turning in a 9:9 K:BB while allowing six runs (four earned) over 8.2 frames out of the Milwaukee bullpen through the first month of the season. The big lefty is clearing out to make room on the roster for Tobias Myers (oblique), who was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his season debut Thursday in San Francisco.