Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) made his second minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday and allowed four earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in two innings of work. Wicks threw 59 pitches. The 24-year-old southpaw has not looked good at all in his first two rehab starts for Iowa, allowing 10 earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings. He's attempting to return from a Grade 2 right-oblique strain that he suffered in the middle of June. The Cubs will probably want to see Wicks make another start or two in the minors before they feel comfortable activating him from the injured list. And when Wicks does return to the big leagues, there's a good chance he'll be tasked with a long-relief role out of the bullpen. Wicks has a 4.18 ERA and 1.46 WHIP this year with 32 strikeouts in only 28 innings of work with the Cubs.

Things are trending toward free-agent left-hander Rich Hill signing with the Boston Red Sox, according to a source. If Hill rejoins the Red Sox, it will be on a minor-league deal. Cooper Criswell (illness) is returning to the starting rotation on Friday for the Red Sox to take the place of left-handed veteran James Paxton, who suffered a partially torn calf muscle and is likely to miss the rest of the season. But Hill would give Boston some more rotation insurance in case Criswell doesn't work out. The 44-year-old Hill pitched for the Red Sox from 2010-12 and then again in 2015 and 2022 and lives in Massachusetts. He hasn't pitched at all in 2024 and went 8-14 with a 5.41 ERA, a 1.72 WHIP and a 19.6% strikeout rate in 146 1/3 innings last year with the Pirates and Padres. If Hill makes it to the big leagues to close out the year in Boston, he won't be fantasy relevant.

Rest and rehab has been recommended for New York Yankees infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (elbow) instead of surgery after he sought multiple opinions from doctors on his UCL injury. The Yankees are holding out hope that Chisholm can play again this season, likely in September or for a postseason run. Chisholm was put on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a left (non-throwing) elbow sprain that he suffered diving into home plate on Monday against the White Sox. "I can tell you Jazz is pretty encouraged by how he's feeling," manager Aaron Boone said. "So hopefully that's a good sign." It's unknown when the 26-year-old will be able to resume swinging. For the time being, Oswaldo Cabrera is expected to see most of the playing time at third base in the Bronx, with DJ LeMahieu also being an option. Chisholm hit seven homers in his first 14 games after joining the team.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) is starting in right field and is batting cleanup for the Cubbies on Friday at Wrigley Field against the Toronto Blue Jays and rookie right-hander Yariel Rodriguez. Bellinger had been limited to designated-hitter duties for the Cubs since returning from a fractured middle finger on his left hand, but he's feeling good enough now to play defense. Since coming off the injured list on July 30, Bellinger has been swinging a hot bat, batting .320 (16-for-50) with three home runs, a double, nine RBI, a stolen base and nine runs scored in 13 games played. Bellinger returning to the outfield doesn't change much for fantasy managers; he should remain in starting lineups against Rodriguez, a pitcher he has yet to face in his career.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda had one of his best outings of the year on Thursday, going 5 innings of shutout ball against the Seattle Mariners. Maeda came in after opener Alex Faedo allowed a run in the first inning, but the veteran shut down the M's into the seventh, keeping his team in the game and eventually giving them a chance to grab a 2-1 win. Maeda looked very sharp in this one, allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out five. Although he's had some decent appearances recently, Maeda is tough to trust on a start-to-start basis because he often has an opener used in front of him and doesn't pitch deep into games. He will have to show more outings like this one to even be streamer-worthy in fantasy.