MLB Player News

Bard (7-6) gave up a two-run homer and recorded one strikeout in Monday's loss to the Cubs.

Bard entered a 4-4 game in the ninth inning and gave up a walkoff shot to Rafael Ortega, giving him his sixth loss of the year. He's allowed five runs over his last 3.1 innings, raising his season ERA to 4.68. It was Bard's first loss since July 6 and he's still 20-for-27 in save chances on the year.

Rodriguez (2-2) tossed a scoreless ninth inning and picked up the win Monday against the Rockies. He struck out one.

Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning in a 4-4 game, then earned the win when the Cubs scored twice in the bottom part of the frame. The 25-year-old has emerged as a candidate for saves in Chicago with Craig Kimbrel getting traded. Codi Heuer is also in the mix. Rodriguez has pitched well with a 2.70 ERA and looks like a decent fantasy option if he keeps seeing late-inning work.

Alzolay (hamstring) could make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa this week, though the Cubs have yet to fully decide on their plans for him, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Alzolay is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list, but it looks as though he's not quite ready to do so. He resumed playing catch two days after landing on the injured list and advanced to agility work the following day and a bullpen session the day after that, so it doesn't seem as though his hamstring strain is a serious one, but the rebuilding Cubs have little reason not to be cautious given their place in the standings.

Mantiply (undisclosed) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

Mantiply spent just over a week on the COVID-19 IL due to contact tracing after starting pitcher Merrill Kelly tested positive for the virus. The 30-year-old southpaw has made eight relief appearances for the Diamondbacks, and he's recorded a 3.38 ERA and 2.25 WHIP with four holds in 5.1 innings during that time.

Vizcaino (undisclosed) struck out the side in a scoreless inning of relief Sunday in his return from Triple-A Syracuse's 7-day injured list.

After battling elbow soreness in spring training, Vizcaino was cleared to rejoin the Syracuse bullpen early in the 2021 season, but he made just five appearances before being shut down in late May with an unspecified injury. After an absence of nearly three months, the 30-year-old returned to action Sunday in dominant fashion. Since he doesn't possess a spot on the 40-man roster, Vizcaino will likely need to string together several quality performances before the Mets consider promoting him from Triple-A.

Reyes earned the save Sunday against the Pirates after tossing a scoreless inning, allowing two hits and fanning one.

Reyes found himself with runners on first and second with two outs after allowing back-to-back singles to Ke'Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds, but he closed the door after retiring Colin Moran on a line to right field. The hard-throwing reliever, who tossed 10 of his 13 pitches for strikes in this outing, snapped a short run of two games allowing earned runs, and he now has 28 saves out of 30 opportunities. He owns a 2.43 ERA across 55.2 innings in his first year as the Cardinals' full-time closer.

Leone (3-2) fired a perfect seventh inning while striking out two, earning the win over the Athletics on Sunday.

Leone entered the game with the Giants down a run in the seventh inning and retired the side in order. The Giants took the lead in the next inning, giving him the win. He has allowed just two runs in 13 innings over his last 15 appearances. The 29-year-old has a 1.57 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 34.1 innings this season.

Nolin (0-2) allowed three runs on six hits and three walks over four innings Sunday, striking out five and taking a loss against Milwaukee.

Nolin's rough afternoon started right out of the gate with Kolten Wong taking him deep for a leadoff homer on Nolin's second pitch of the game. The 31-year-old southpaw then gave up a two-run triple to Wong in the fourth. In his two big-league appearances this season, Nolin's been tagged with seven runs in as many innings while taking a loss in both. For now, it's unclear if he'll get another turn in the rotation.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Sunday that he doesn't expect Hicks (elbow) to return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the season, but the right-hander could be cleared to pick up innings during winter ball, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Hicks took an important step forward last week in his recovery from the right elbow injury that has kept him on the shelf since the beginning of May, as he was cleared to throw off a mound for the first time in more than four and a half months. Though Hicks finally looks to be progressing after his rehab program stalled out for much of the summer, the Cardinals aren't counting him on providing a late-season boost to the bullpen. If Hicks is able to test out his arm over the winter and avoids any further setbacks, he should head into spring training with few restrictions, if any.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Sunday that he expects Hudson (elbow) to begin a minor-league rehab assignment within the next week or so, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Hudson looked to have little chance of making an appearance at any level in 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery Sept. 28 of last year, but not only is he nearing a return to minor-league action, but the organization is also leaving the door open for him to join the Cardinals next month. Before a rehab assignment is mapped out, Hudson will likely continue to build up the intensity of his live batting-practice sessions over the next few days at the Cardinals' training facility in Florida. The 26-year-old doesn't realistically have enough time to get his arm conditioned for a starting role at this stage of the season, so he'll almost certainly be deployed out of the bullpen if the Cardinals bring him back from the 60-day injured list at any point.