MLB Player News

Elder (8-10) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings in a 10-1 rout of the Tigers. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander continued a strong finish to the campaign, serving up just a solo shot to Spencer Torkelson en route to his 13th quality start of the season. Elder has given up two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB through 37.2 innings over that stretch. He's scheduled to wrap up his 2025 with a home start next week against the Nationals.

Hodge (2-2) allowed three runs on three hits across an inning of relief to take the loss Friday against the Reds. He walked one and struck out two.

Hodge worked the sixth inning after starter Shota Imanaga allowed three earned runs across five innings, and the former matched that in his lone frame. The righty reliever served up home runs to Spencer Steer and Elly De La Cruz as he saw his ERA climb to 6.27. With the Cubs headed toward the postseason, Hodge has done very little this year to earn a spot in the playoff bullpen.

Imanaga allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Reds. He walked two and struck out four.

Imanaga was done in by the long ball, as he served up solo home runs to Miguel Andujar, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer. The lefty has now allowed exactly three earned runs in five straight starts, and he has a 4.66 ERA during that stretch. Overall, Imanaga has a 3.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 across 139 innings this season. The strikeouts are a step back from last year, when the 30-year-old rookie posted a 9.0 K/9. Imanaga is slated to wrap up his 2025 regular season next Friday against the Cardinals before slotting into Chicago's postseason rotation, potentially as the team's Game 1 starter.

Shaw went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Reds.

Shaw had been in a bit of a power drought, as this was his first home run since Aug. 20, giving him 12 for the season. While the rookie came out of the All-Star break on a hot streak, he has cooled down more recently. Since the beginning of August, Shaw is batting just .222 and he's striking out nearly 24 percent of the time. He should continue to see regular playing time now that the Cubs have clinched a playoff spot, but the team may be less patient in the postseason if Shaw slumps.

Swanson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Reds.

Swanson connected for his first home run in two weeks, giving him 23 long balls for the season. That's the most by the Chicago shortstop in his time with his team, as he hit 22 homers in 2023 and 16 homers last year. Swanson's career high in home runs is 27, which he recorded back in 2021 while playing for Atlanta. The 31-year-old also has 76 RBI and 17 stolen bases this season to round out his stat line.

Steer went 2-for-3 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI in Friday's 7-4 win over the Cubs.

For the second time in three games, Steer powered the Reds to a victory. On Friday, he hit a solo homer in the fourth inning, and then his two-run shot in the seventh was the go-ahead knock. This outburst came two days after he homered and knocked in five in Wednesday's win over St. Louis. All of this followed a stretch in which Steer missed time due to spasms in his neck.

De La Cruz went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Friday's 7-4 win over the Cubs. He was also caught stealing.

De La Cruz helped break a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning when he hit the second of back-to-back home runs. The blast, his 20th of the season, was his first since July 31. In those 43 games in between homers, De La Cruz slashed .205/.255/.290 with just 10 RBI.

Abrams went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-6 loss to the Mets.

Abrams smacked an RBI double in the third inning before adding a two-run homer in the fifth. The long ball was the shortstop's first since Aug. 23, and he's now on a modest four-game hitting streak despite batting just .238 in 16 September contests. For the season, he's slashing .264/.323/.442 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 89 runs scored and 31 steals across 604 plate appearances.

Lindor went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, one RBI and four runs scored in Friday's 12-6 win over the Nationals.

Lindor scored each time he reached base and broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI single in the fourth inning. The shortstop is now riding an eight-game hitting streak, piling up 12 runs in that span. On the season, he's slashing .268/.344/.456 with 27 homers, 79 RBI, 111 runs scored and 30 steals across 694 plate appearances.

Blalock (2-5) picked up the win Friday against the Angels, allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.

Blalock was hit hard once again, serving up multiple home runs in his third straight start. The right-hander hasn't been able to overcome hitter-friendly Coors Field in 2025, limping to a 12.27 ERA, 2.18 WHIP and 9:14 K:BB across 29.1 innings at home. His last appearance of the season is set to come at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against the Mariners, though Blalock's 5.61 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 25.2 innings on the road don't exactly offer much reason for optimism.