• Hits IL with strained forearm
    The Cubs placed Assad on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right forearm extensor strain, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

    Advice: It's not clear how long Assad's forearm has been bothering him, but he's stumbled in June with a 5.49 ERA after entering the month with a 2.27 mark. Assad had been slated to get a start this weekend in Milwaukee, but the Cubs will need to find a substitute to fill in for that outing and at least one additional start next week, as well. Rotowire.com 6 minutes ago
     
  • Getting spot start Thursday
    Kuhl will start Thursday's game against Atlanta at Guaranteed Rate Field.

    Advice: Kuhl had started in 11 of his 13 appearances at Triple-A Charlotte prior to being called up June 14, but his first three outings with the big club have come out of the bullpen. However, Kuhl covered 4.1 innings and 99 pitches in long relief while mopping up in Sunday's 11-2 loss to the Tigers, so even though he'll be pitching on three days' rest, he should be able to provide the White Sox with a decent amount of length in a starting role. Unless he impresses against Atlanta to earn himself a longer stay in the rotation, Kuhl will likely be moved back to the bullpen or sent to the minors after Thursday's start. Rotowire.com 16 minutes ago
    Chad KuhlCWS - SP,RP
    1:10 pm vs ATL
     
  • Making progress in throwing program
    Blackburn (foot) threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Angel Stadium and is set to complete another one Saturday, MLB.com reports.

    Advice: The right-hander has been making steady progress over the last week-plus, as he's already thrown two bullpen sessions and seemingly come away from that activity without setbacks. If Saturday's session also goes off without a hitch, Blackburn could progress to facing hitters as the next step in his recovery. Rotowire.com 22 minutes ago
  • Sent back to Triple-A
    Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

    Advice: As expected, Elder was returned to the minors after he was designated as Atlanta's 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader with the Cardinals. He picked up the start in the second game and was dealt a loss after giving up two earned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out four over six innings. Rotowire.com Today, 8:26 am
     
  • Not making start this week
    Jones isn't listed among the Pirates' probable starting pitchers for this weekend's series in Atlanta, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

    Advice: Jones will thus go the entire week without making a start, much to the chagrin of fantasy managers in weekly leagues who chose to keep him active. Gorman notes that general manager Ben Cherington has previously said that while the Pirates don't intend to shut Jones or fellow rookie phenom Paul Skenes down at any point this season, both pitchers will have their respective workloads managed to some degree as the campaign unfolds. Jones isn't dealing with any sort of injury, so the Pirates appear to have simply chosen this week as an opportunity to build in more recovery for the right-hander, who has logged 86 innings through his first 15 big-league starts. Jones now appears to be in line to make his next start at some point during next week's series versus the Cardinals. Rotowire.com Today, 7:30 am
  • Cleared to start Friday
    Perez (groin) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday in Atlanta, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

    Advice: The Pirates will push back Jared Jones' next turn through the rotation in order to make room for Perez, whose last outing before he landed on the IL in late May coincidentally came against Atlanta. Perez needed just one rehab start to convince the Pirates he was ready to rejoin the big club, as he allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings while tossing 65 pitches for Triple-A Indianapolis last weekend. Perez shouldn't face any sort of major restriction with his workload Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 7:24 am
     
  • Fans seven for Jacksonville
    Cabrera (shoulder) threw four scoreless, no-hit innings for Triple-A Jacksonville on Tuesday, striking out seven and walking two.

    Advice: The right-hander built up to 60 pitches (37 strikes) as he closes in on a return to the big-league rotation. The Marlins moved Cabrera to the 60-day IL over the weekend, which will prevent him from being activated until early July, but he should be ready to rejoin the team's staff as soon as he's eligible. Through five MLB starts this season, Cabrera has a 7.17 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB through 21.1 innings. Rotowire.com Today, 7:17 am
     
  • Next rehab outing set
    Marquez (elbow) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Marquez made his most recent rehab outing Saturday with High-A Spokane and threw 58 pitches while recording four scoreless frames. He'll head to the highest level of the minors to put the finishing touches on his rehab from Tommy John surgery and could return in early July. Rotowire.com Today, 6:50 am
  • Matt Manning working on delivery at Triple-A
    Matt Manning was not called up when the Tigers needed a starter this week because he’s working on tweaking his delivery at Triple-A Toledo.

    Advice: “Matty is still working on delivery,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s still working on execution. There are plenty of things that we still want him to do.” One of those things is likely getting left-handed hitters out. Between MLB and Triple-A action combined, left-handed hitters are hitting .304 off Manning with a .893 OPS. The 26-year-old has a 4.88 ERA with 12 walks and 23 strikeouts across 27⅔ innings in five appearances for the Tigers this season and a 5.68 ERA with 13 walks and 42 strikeouts across 38 innings in eight games for the Mud Hens. “We also want the guys down in Triple-A to not assume, as well,” said Hinch. “You gotta give opportunity to guys that you feel good about. It’s not just one person because we’re used to it. He’s still got to earn his way like everybody else.” It sounds like Manning still has work to do before he earns another chance. Rotoworld Today, 6:05 am