MLB Player News

Cruz (hand) will remain on his rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona at least through the weekend, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Pirates hadn't previously ruled out a return from the 60-day injured list for Cruz this weekend against the Red Sox, but they've opted to give him more time. Cruz has gone 2-for-13 with a 3:6 BB:K through his first four rehab games between Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. He has not yet started back-to-back games in center field, and the Pirates likely want him to check that box before reinstating him. Cruz has been shelved since mid-June with a fractured hand.

The Cubs will activate Cabrera (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list and start him Sunday against the Cardinals, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Cabrera -- who has been out since late June with a strained hamstring -- looked good in three rehab outings, permitting only one unearned run with a 15:1 K:BB over nine innings. He threw 64 pitches in his last rehab start, so Cabrera will be somewhat limited from a workload perspective against the Cardinals. With Cabrera rejoining the rotation Sunday, Shota Imanaga will be pushed back to Monday versus the White Sox. Additionally, if the Cubs are averse to a six-man rotation, David Peterson could shift to the bullpen to accommodate Cabrera.

The White Sox recalled Schweitzer from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Schweitzer is back with the big club in place of Tanner McDougal, who was sent back to Charlotte in a corresponding move. Schweitzer has appeared in 11 games out of the bullpen for the White Sox this season, posting a 2.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB across 22.2 innings.

The White Sox optioned McDougal to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

The 23-year-old made his big-league debut Thursday against the Reds but faced five batters, walking three and hitting another with a pitch. He recorded one out and was charged with one run, while throwing just eight of his 25 pitches for strikes.

The White Sox recalled Urquidy from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Acquired from the Pirates last month, Urquidy will get his first call-up to Chicago after the White Sox placed Davis Martin (finger) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Urquidy had been working as a full-time starter in the minors this season between the White Sox's and Pirates' Triple-A affiliates, pitching to a 3.48 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 79:20 K:BB in 95.2 innings. The 31-year-old righty will likely be called upon to pitch in bulk relief Friday in Detroit once opening pitcher Sean Newcomb exits the game.

Garcia (hand) went 0-for-1 with a run scored and three walks with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Thursday.

Garcia resumed his rehab assignment from a strained muscle in his left hand, though he didn't get much chance to hit, drawing three walks while committing a pair of errors across a full game at third base. The 26-year-old was pulled off his assignment after just one appearance July 28 due to renewed discomfort, but after receiving a cortisone injection and participating in some baseball activity, he was given the green light to return to game action. It's unclear how long the Royals plan to keep Garcia in the minors, but provided his hand remains pain-free coming out of Thursday's game, he's tracking toward a return to the big-league roster in the not-too-distant future. Before landing on the injured list, Garcia slashed .261/.320/.373 with three home runs, 30 RBI, 32 runs and five stolen bases across 69 contests.

The White Sox placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Friday with a blister on his right middle finger.

Martin has been hit hard over his last seven starts and lasted just two innings in Thursday's start against the Reds before he was ejected after hitting Sal Stewart in the head with a pitch. Since July 8, Martin owns an 8.48 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB across 28.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .302 against the right-hander with an .870 OPS during that span. Jose Urquidy has been recalled from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move.

Brown (neck) threw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Brown recently advanced to throwing off a mound at the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona, but this appears to be his first bullpen session in front of the major-league coaching staff since suffering a stress reaction in his neck in late June. The right-hander could be ready for a rehab assignment soon if he continues to progress. Between the Cubs' rotation additions at the deadline and Brown lacking time to get stretched back out, when he does return, it could be in a relief role.

Prieto will start at third base and bat ninth in Friday's contest versus the Cubs.

It's the fifth start over the last six games against right-handers for Prieto, who picked up his first hit of the season in Wednesday's win over the Phillies. The 27-year-old infielder is just 2-for-34 so far at the major-league level but has been a steady performer at Triple-A Memphis, slashing .307/.373/.517 with 12 homers and a 25:38 BB:K over 71 games there this season.

Crooks is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The Cubs have a righty on the mound in Clay Holmes, but the left-handed-hitting Crooks will begin the contest on the bench. Ivan Herrera will do the catching for the Cardinals, and Bryan Torres will slot in at designated hitter.