MLB Player News

Machado went 4-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run in Saturday's 8-3 win against Colorado.

Machado had gone 1-for-14 over his previous four games before posting the big effort Saturday. It was the third time this season that the veteran third baseman has recorded four hits in a game. Since July 17, Machado is slashing .343/.377/.643 with five homers, six doubles, 17 RBI, 13 runs and a stolen base over 17 contests.

Martinez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Martinez has a .208/.333/.354 slash line through 14 games in August and will sit Sunday after starting the previous nine contests. Jesse Winker will serve as the designated hitter while Starling Marte (knee) is in right field in his return from the injured list.

Brasier pitched 1.1 perfect innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals.

Brasier took over for starter Bobby Miller with a runner on third base and two outs in the fifth inning and retired Nolan Arenado to end the threat. Brasier then returned to the mound in the sixth and needed just five pitches to set the side down in order. This was the righty reliever's first major-league game action since April 27. He appears to be past the calf injury that necessitated a stay on the 60-day IL.

Wicks (oblique) struck out three and allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks in his second rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Iowa. "He's got a minimum of two [rehab starts] left before he's kind of ready to pitch for us regardless," Cubs manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com on Friday, when asked about a timeline for Wicks to return from the 60-day injured list. "So, he's got time left. I think at the start of it, health is most important. And as we get closer to making a decision, then results start to get factored in more, absolutely."

Wicks has been on the IL since mid-June with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, but he's been able to steadily ramp up his workload over his first two rehab starts, tossing 43 pitches Aug. 10 and 59 pitches Thursday. The results haven't been impressive, however, as Wicks has covered just 3.2 innings between those outings while giving up 10 earned runs on nine hits -- including four home runs -- and four walks. Counsell expressed confidence that Wicks will be able to knock off the rust in his subsequent rehab outings, and the fact that the skipper notes that the lefty will make at least two more starts in the minors suggests that Wicks probably won't be activated until the final weekend of August, at the earliest. Kyle Hendricks should continue to hold down a spot at the back end of the Chicago rotation while Wicks is on the farm.

Sale (14-3) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out 10.

Sale stifled the Angels' lineup for most of the night, allowing only two batters to reach second base over the first five innings before surrendering two runs -- one of which came across on a wild pitch -- in the sixth. The lefty induced 17 whiffs on the night and posted double-digit strikeouts for the third consecutive start. Sale has now won his four last decisions (spanning eight starts) and hasn't surrendered more than two runs since June 1 against the Athletics (a span of 12 starts).

Rojas is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Washington.

Rojas is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, and since the beginning of August he's gone 11-for-33 with four stolen bases, six runs scored and five RBI. He'll begin Sunday's contest in the dugout while Cal Stevenson starts in center field and bats ninth.

Realmuto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Realmuto started the previous six games but will receive a day off after going 7-for-21 with three walks, two doubles, four RBI and three runs during that span. Garrett Stubbs will step in behind the plate to catch for Taijuan Walker on Sunday.

Harper is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

Harper will begin Sunday's game in the dugout. He's gone 0-for-7 with one walk and one strikeout over the last two games against Washington. Alec Bohm will man first base and bat third against Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin.

Stephenson is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Stephenson went 3-for-7 with two doubles and one RBI across the first two games of the series. Luke Maile will start behind home plate and bat ninth against Kansas City right-hander Brady Singer.

France is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against Kansas City.

France will get a breather Sunday after going 3-for-6 across the first two games of the series. Spencer Steer will man first base and bat third against Royals right-hander Brady Singer.