MLB Player News

Mantiply was optioned to the Diamondbacks' alternate training site Wednesday.

Mantiply will return to alternate camp after a rough outing Tuesday in which he gave up three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out zero over one-third of an inning. Right-hander Joel Payamps was recalled by the Diamondbacks to take his place in the major-league bullpen.

Payamps was recalled by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Payamps was sent to the alternate training site Thursday, but he'll return to the major-league bullpen just under a week later. Southpaw Joe Mantiply was sent down in a corresponding move. Payamps will likely pitch in low-leverage situations for the Diamondbacks.

Helsley, who surrendered two earned runs on two hits over an inning while recording a strikeout in the first game of a doubleheader against the Twins on Tuesday, now has a 10.80 ERA across 3.1 innings in his first three appearances since returning from the COVID-19 injured list.

Helsley had opened the season with a pair of perfect appearances before his and the Cardinals' seasons were both sidelined due to the team's coronavirus outbreak. The hard-throwing right-hander's struggles since his return underscore the notion the month-plus layoff particularly affected him; Helsley came into the season riding high off an impressive rookie campaign during which he posted a 2.95 ERA and didn't give up an earned run in more than two consecutive appearances over 36.2 innings.

Gsellman was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured rib Wednesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Gsellman was initially believed to have sustained a left oblique injury, but he'll likely be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a fractured rib. The right-hander struggled this season with a 9.64 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and 9:8 K:BB over 14 innings during six appearances (four starts). Drew Smith was recalled by the Mets to take Gsellman's place in the bullpen.

The Mets recalled Smith from their alternate training site ahead of Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

He'll join the New York bullpen as a replacement for Robert Gsellman, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured rib. Smith has made eight relief appearances for the Mets this season, giving up five earned runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings.

The Cardinals optioned Ponce de Leon to their alternate training site Wednesday.

Ponce de Leon was called up from the alternate site Tuesday and designated as the 29th man for the Cardinals' doubleheader with Minnesota. He started the second game of the twin bill, working three innings and giving up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four in a no-decision. Though he'll move back to the alternate site to give St. Louis some short-term roster flexibility, Ponce de Leon will likely re-enter the rotation for next week's series in Milwaukee, which features doubleheaders Sept. 14 and 16.

Rogers (1-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Mariners after tossing a scoreless inning. He allowed one hit and one walk while fanning one.

Rogers now has posted back-to-back scoreless appearances out of the bullpen after allowing three runs in two outings (1.2 innings) earlier this month. Rogers has three saves but has also blown two other save chances this season and, while he should remain as a reliable late-inning arm for San Francisco, it seems he will remain behind Tony Watson in the save pecking order.

Jansen (3-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. He gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits while fanning one across 1.1 innings.

Jansen entered the game in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on first, but the Dodgers escaped the threat by putting Tim Locastro out at home. He struggled in the 10th inning as well, giving up a two-run homer to Christian Walker and a two-out RBI single to David Peralta before ending the game with a strikeout. Jansen might have earned the win here, but he is not expected to be happy with his performance.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he's likely to stick with Ginkel as the closer "for the time being," Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Ginkel blew his first chance at closing last week against the Dodgers but nailed down a win two days later against the Giants. "Even though he gave up the lead (against the Dodgers), I thought he threw the ball and was repeating his pitches very well," Lovullo said. Ginkel got the first chance to close games based on his performance and results during the second half of the 2019 season, when he posted a 1.48 ERA over 25 games in August and September.

Hudson recorded the save Tuesday against the Rays with one strikeout and one hit allowed during a scoreless ninth inning.

The veteran right-hander surrendered a one-out single, but he still needed only 14 pitches to finish off the victory. Hudson has posted a 5.74 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB over 15.2 innings while going 9-for-12 in save opportunities.