MLB Player News

The Cardinals optioned Hjerpe to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hjerpe made his final appearance of the season in Thursday's loss to the Pirates, tossing 3.1 shutout innings in a bulk relief outing. The Cardinals will announce a corresponding roster move prior to Friday's game in Milwaukee. Hjerpe made four appearances for the big club as a piggyback partner with Kyle Leahy, logging a 4.27 ERA and 15:9 K:BB over 12.1 innings. The left-hander will likely compete for a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day rotation next season.

The Brewers are expected to activate Wilson (back) from the 15-day injured list to have him start or pitch in bulk relief during Thursday's game in Philadelphia, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Wilson, who has been on the shelf since Aug. 31 due to a low back strain, looks to be healthy again after making a pair of rehab appearances with Triple-A Nashville. In his final outing for Nashville on Saturday, Wilson tossed 56 pitches and struck out five batters while allowing one unearned run across four innings. He should be able to provide Milwaukee with a decent amount of the length in the big club's final road game of the regular season.

The Pirates recalled Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

The Pirates needed a rested arm after they had a bullpen game Wednesday against the Cardinals. Sisk has pitched well in 39 relief outings with the big club, logging a 3.16 ERA and 48:23 K:BB over 42.2 innings.

The Pirates optioned Curtis to the Florida Complex League on Thursday.

Curtis logged 3.2 innings in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals, yielding a pair of runs. He required 71 pitches to cover his 3.2 frames, so Curtis is being replaced in the Pirates' bullpen by a fresh arm.

Hjerpe is expected to work as a piggyback pitcher behind starter Kyle Leahy in Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Since being called up from Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 6, Hjerpe has made all three of his appearances to date as part of a piggyback tandem with Leahy, whose workload the Cardinals are deliberately looking to keep in check as the season winds down. The rookie left-hander has had mixed results thus far, going 1-0 with a 12:6 K:BB while yielding six earned runs and giving up four hits across nine innings.

Cruz gave up a run on three hits over 1.1 innings Wednesday, recording his first career save in a 4-2 win over the Tigers. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander topped out at 100 mph with his sinker as he gets another chance to establish himself as a high-leverage option for the Nationals. Acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline, Cruz has struggled in his first exposure to big-league hitters this season, and through 9.2 innings for the Nats he's stumbled to a 7.45 ERA, 2.17 WHIP and 8:8 K:BB. He has some of the best pure stuff on the staff, however, and is working on adding a splitter to his repertoire as a weapon against lefties. Cruz could have a very prominent spot in Washington's bullpen plans next year.

Dion (2-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Tigers, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over two relief innings. He struck out four.

Brad Lord took on the largest workload during a bullpen day for the Nationals, tossing 3.1 scoreless frames ahead of Dion, but the southpaw was the pitcher of record when his team broke open a scoreless tie with a three-run sixth inning. Dion has been a versatile option since being acquired from the Guardians at the trade deadline, and over 14 appearances (one start) and 28 innings for the Nats he's produced a 3.21 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB with two wins, a save and a hold.

Loaisiga earned the save after allowing one hit and one walk over a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Rockies.

Loaisiga was handed a two-run lead and made things interesting before closing out Arizona's victory. Colorado eventually put runners at second and third with two outs, but the right-hander escaped without allowing either to score after retiring Ezequiel Tovar on a popout to first to end the game. The scoreless frame not only lowered Loaisiga's ERA to 2.22 and kept the Diamondbacks' slim playoff chances alive, but it also marked the right-hander's sixth consecutive scoreless outing. Loaisiga has given up just two earned runs over his last 16 appearances and 17.2 innings, posting a pristine 0.51 ERA with a 11:1 K:BB over that stretch.

Megill earned the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Phillies, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Megill made quick work of the Phillies, as he retired the side on just 11 pitches to notch his 30th save this season, matching his career high. Overall, Megill sports a 2.67 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP and 68:15 K:BB across 60.2 innings this year.

The Padres designated Jacob for assignment Wednesday.

After turning in a 5.58 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 61.1 innings at Triple-A El Paso, Jacob will lose his place on San Diego's 40-man roster to clear space for Jason Adam (shoulder), who returned from the 60-day IL on Wednesday. Jacob's career numbers in the majors are respectable (4.18 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), though his poor performance in the minors may deter other teams from claiming him off waivers.