2B Javier Baez was not in the lineup on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox a day after going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in the Cubs' victory on Tuesday. "He probably needs a day," manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday. "He's been playing a lot and most of the times for me when a guy comes out of a zone a lot, it's because he's a little mentally fatigued. He's fine."

RHP Jake Arrieta allowed just two hits over 6 2/3 innings and didn't allow a hit until allowed a one-out double in the fifth inning. Arrieta's no-hit stretch Wednesday was the longest such stretch since Oct. 26, 2016, against the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. Over his last five starts, Arrieta has gone 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Wednesday night was Arrieta's 11th quality start of the year and his fifth in his last eight games. "I thought he had much better fastball command," manager Joe Maddon said. "Overall, I thought he pitched well -- it looked more effortless and the ball was going where he wanted it to go which is always a good thing."

1B Anthony Rizzo, who had four RBIs in Wednesday's victory over the Chicago White Sox, wasn't thrilled Wednesday about having to discuss an animated conversation between himself and pitcher John Lackey that television captured during the Cubs' win over the White Sox on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Rizzo called characterizations of the conversation "uneducated speculation" and said, it was just talk between friends. "That's what's good about this team," Rizzo said. "When you have friends, you can talk to them and it's not going to be anything more than friends talking to friends."

RHP Will Harris (right shoulder bruise) was sent on a rehab assignment to Class A Buies Creek. He pitched one inning and struck out two Wednesday. Harris is 2-2 with a 2.86 in 34 appearances this season.

LHP Jose Quintana, who spent six years with the White Sox, was honored with a video tribute in the first inning of Wednesday's night's game. Quintana was traded to the Cubs earlier this month, will miss pitching against his former team by one day and will make his third Cubs start on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Quintana tipped his cap to the crowd Wednesday night after receiving an ovation following the video tribute.

OF Giancarlo Stanton hit his 33rd home run Wednesday, surpassing the Yankees' Aaron Judge for the MLB lead. "That's really cool," Stanton said. "Be even cooler at the end of the season. I'm in a good spot now. Just got to keep it going." Stanton has 12 home runs in July, matching the club record he already shared for home runs in a month.

C Robinson Chirinos remained sidelined with a sprained left ankle suffered Sunday against Tampa Bay. Chirinos was available Wednesday in an emergency situation and plans to be back at full strength Friday. "I feel good," he said. "Better than yesterday, so it's improving every day. That's good."

RHP Marcus Stroman (9-5, 2.98 ERA) has a 0.63 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .196 over his past two starts, July 17-22, but has no-decisions to show for it. He will be trying for his first win since July 8 on Thursday afternoon as he faces the Oakland Athletics in the finale of a four-game series at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays are 1-1 in Stroman's past two starts in which he has allowed 10 hits in 14 1/3 innings. He is 0-0 with a 4.63 ERA in two career starts against Oakland.

OF Ezequiel Carrera did not play Wednesday in the 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics with INF/OF Steve Pearce getting the start in left field. In his past 21 games started, Carrera is batting .348 with a .442 OBP and a .911 OPS.

INF/OF Steve Pearce went 0-for-3 and played left field in the 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night to end a five-game hit streak. He was 5-for-18 on the streak. He has hit in 13 of his past 16 games, batting .304 during that span0.

DH Kendrys Morales hit the game-ending home run in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday in the 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. It was his 18th homer of the season and he leads the majors with seven homers in close and late situations. He has hit 10 homers this season that have either tied the game or put the Blue Jays into the lead. It was his second walkoff homer of the season with the other on April 15 against the Baltimore Orioles.

1B Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday night against the Oakland Athletics to tie the game 2-2 and DH Kendrys Morales followed with a game-ending blast. It was the 28th homer of the season for Smoak. He has hit seven homers in the ninth inning or later this season. His 23 homers since May 11 leads the majors.

C Josh Phegley (left oblique tightness) was a late scratch from the lineup from the game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday and C Bruce Maxwell replaced him behind the plate and in the No. 8 spot in the lineup. He is batting .169 over his past 28 games after hitting .250 over his first 19. Overall, Phegley is batting .205/.246/.346 with three homers and seven RBIs in 47 games. Maxwell was 0-for-4 in the 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

RHP Chris Bassitt (Tommy John surgery) was reinstated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Bassitt has made 23 of his 29 big league appearances as a starter but is being prepared to work as a reliever. He has allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings over three relief appearances for Nashville and is 1-2 with a 5.46 ERA in 13 games (nine starts) between Nashville and Class A Stockton. Bassitt was 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in five starts for the Athletics last season before undergoing surgery May 6, 2016. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 23. RHP Bobby Wahl (strained right shoulder) was moved to the 60-day DL to make room for him in the 40-man roster.

RHP Trevor Cahil was activated on Wednesday after arriving in a trade on Monday with the San Diego Padres. He is scheduled to start Saturday against the Red Sox in Boston.

RHP Ricky Nolasco, who needed a good start, had one, even though he took the loss. Nolasco pitched into the seventh inning, allowing three runs. "He worked around some early command issues, but once he settled in he had a good run and gave us a chance to win," manager Mike Scioscia said. One of the nine hits allowed by Nolasco was a home run by the first batter he faced, OF Bradley Zimmer, in the first inning. Nolasco has allowed home runs in 15 of his 21 starts. His 27 homers allowed overall leads all American League pitchers.

RHP Cam Bedrosian took most of the lumps in Cleveland's seven-run eighth inning. Bedrosian faced six batters and only retired one. The other five scored. "Cam was erratic with his command and his breaking ball wasn't sharp. We'll just turn the page on that one," manager Mike Scioscia said.

LHP Tommy Milone was sent on a rehab assignment to GCL Mets. He pitched 1 2/3 innings Wednesday and gave up two runs and two hits and was handed the loss. Milone (left knee sprain) had been transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list on June 22.

INF Neil Walker, who has been on the disabled list since June 15 with a partial tear of his left hamstring, could return as soon as this weekend, possibly playing some third base. Walker was hitting .270 with 13 doubles, two triples, nine homers and 33 RBIs in 60 games when he was injured.

LF Yoenis Cespedes was back in the Mets lineup Wednesday after leaving Tuesday night's game with tightness in both quad muscles. But Collins said Cespedes' quads remain an issue moving forward. "We're going to have to watch him," said Collins. Cespedes was 1-for-4 Wednesday night after going 3-for-4 with a homer, a triple and three RBIs Tuesday. His quads tightened when he was running out the triple and scoring on an error. Cespedes is 16-for-47 (.340) in 12 games since the All-Star break.