MLB Player News

Walker allowed four earned runs on four hits while failing to record an out in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Walker entered in the eighth inning and gave up three singles and a double before being pulled. The right-hander has surrendered six runs over 1.2 innings in his last three appearances, totaling 42 pitches during that span. He now owns a 7.06 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 18:12 K:BB across 21.2 innings in 24 outings this season.

Payne has posted a 3.93 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 95:22 K:BB over 68.2 innings this season between Single-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit.

An 18th-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of a Pennsylvania high school, Payne gave up an offer from George Mason to start his pro career early, per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com, and the decision seems to be paying off. While the 20-year-old southpaw sits in the low 90s with his fastball, his velocity has crept up since he was drafted and the pitch comes with significant ride that allows him to work up in the zone. He then turns to a potentially plus curveball and slider for his whiffs. Payne likely still profiles as a back-of-the-rotation option in the majors at best unless he can add more juice to his fastball and improve his changeup, but his development so far has been impressive.

Assad is slated to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

After pitching 2.2 innings of long relief behind Matthew Boyd in his most recent appearance during Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Padres, Assad will slot back into the rotation weekend. While Assad has rolled to a 3-0 record, 2.70 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over his last three starts, the Cubs' willingness to use him in relief earlier this week could indicate that he's the pitcher most likely to move to the bullpen once the banged-up Chicago rotation gets some further reinforcement. Among the Cubs' injured starters, Jameson Taillon (hamstring) is the closest to returning and is set to make a rehab start Sunday, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to return from the 15-day injured list during the final week before the All-Star break.

Smith picked up a hold in Wednesday's 6-4 win over Arizona, allowing one hit while striking out one in one inning.

After giving up a run in each of his previous two outings, Smith threw nine of his 13 pitches for strikes Wednesday and helped slow the Diamondbacks after they opened the eighth inning with four straight hits off Ryan Walker. Smith picked up his second hold of the season, with both coming in his last two appearances. The right-hander now owns a 1.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB across 9.2 innings in 11 games this season.

Hicks went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies.

Making his second straight start at first base since coming off the IL, Hicks has banged out two hits and scored a run in each game since recovering from a lower-back strain. The 27-year-old's breakout campaign doesn't appear to be slowing down -- over 19 contests since the beginning of June, Hicks has produced a .324/.405/.471 slash line with five extra-base hits, including two homers, eight RBI and 15 runs.

Peterson is slated to start Friday's game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

The 30-year-old southpaw will be rewarded with another turn through the rotation after excelling in his Cubs debut last Saturday, earning a win over the Brewers while striking out two batters and allowing two earned runs on five hits and no walks across 5.2 innings. Peterson's body of work over a sample of eight starts and eight relief appearances with the Mets this season has been much less impressive (6.09 ERA, 1.65 WHIP in 68 innings), but he looks like he'll have a chance to stick around in a depleted Chicago rotation until the club gets some reinforcements. Among the Cubs' injured starters, Jameson Taillon (hamstring) is the closest to returning and is set to make a rehab start Sunday, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to return from the 15-day injured list before the All-Star break.

Stephenson is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest from Milwaukee.

Stephenson is sporting a .962 OPS across his last 10 games, but he will get a breather after catching Wednesday's night game. Jose Trevino will be behind the dish in the series finale.

Sanoja went 1-for-2 with two walks, a triple and two RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Rockies.

While his line in the box score looks good, it was a game Sanoja would probably rather forget. He was caught stealing after drawing a walk to lead off the second inning, then committed an error in the fifth that resulted in four unearned runs and Max Meyer's first loss of the season. Sanoja has started the last three games at three different positions (second base, shortstop and third base), and manager Clayton McCullough will likely continue to find ways to get the 23-year-old into the lineup on a regular basis given his .306/.329/.500 slash line since the beginning of June with eight extra-base hits including two homers, two steals, 11 runs and 14 RBI in 25 contests.

Callihan is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Callihan will head to the bench for the second time in the series while the Pirates make room in the lineup for Marcell Ozuna, who will serve as the club's designated hitter and No. 7 batter. After getting his time with Pittsburgh off to an excellent start upon being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in late May, Callihan has cooled down considerably. Over his last 12 games, Callihan is slashing .143/.194/.321 with a 45.2 percent strikeout rate.

Made has gone 23-for-53 (.434) with a home run, five doubles, a triple, 10 RBI, four stolen bases and a 5:9 BB:K over his last 13 games with Double-A Biloxi.

Made went through a bit of a slow stretch in early June, but since he has provided a reminder why he is one of the best -- if not the best -- prospects in the league. It's unclear how much the Brewers want to see from the 19-year-old before bumping him up to the Triple-A level, but his .291/.361/.435 slash line on the season suggests he could get there at some point this summer.