MLB Player News

Underwood was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

Underwood will join the Cubs for the stretch run after spending most of the season at Iowa and posting a 5.07 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 81.2 innings. The 25-year-old allowed one run on three hits while recording seven strikeouts across 3.1 major-league frames.

The Cardinals recalled Ponce de Leon ahead of his scheduled start in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Reds.

Ponce de Leon will only be in line for a spot start this weekend, but a strong showing versus Cincinnati may convince manager Mike Shildt to give the right-hander another look in the rotation at some point later in September. The Cardinals' current No. 5 starter, Michael Wacha, tossed seven quality frames in one end of a doubleheader Saturday but has otherwise underwhelmed lately, posting a 5.71 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across his prior four outings.

Nelson (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Nelson has battled injures all season, initially struggling in his return to the club from a shoulder injury in early June. Sidelined with an elbow injury since June 28, Nelson has thrown 17.1 innings since July 21 for Triple-A San Antonio, posting a 6.23 ERA and 1.67 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and 12 walks. While Nelson had been working multiple innings, his last two appearances have been briefer, so his role with the team to close the season remains uncertain.

Suter (elbow) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Suter underwent Tommy John surgery Aug. 1 last season and has been working his way back since. In his most recent rehab work, Suter has looked dominant, racking up 18 strikeouts across 11.2 scoreless frames with Triple-A San Antonio. He worked four innings and threw 57 pitches in his most recent outing, meaning he should be set to work long appearances -- or even as a spot starter -- for the team to close the season.

Voth (shoulder) was activated off the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Voth has been sidelined with shoulder tendinitis since July 21 but will join the Nationals after a three-game rehab stint. The 27-year-old had a 4.35 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in four starts for Washington, but he should slide into a bullpen role for the stretch run, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.

Jansen pitched one inning in a non-save situation Saturday, giving up one run on a solo homer.

Jansen entered the game with the Dodgers trailing by a run in the eighth inning and promptly served up a leadoff home run to Eduardo Escobar. The three-time All-Star has now allowed three long balls in his last eight innings and has notched only one save in four opportunities during that span. Manager Dave Roberts recently reaffirmed his commitment to keeping the 31-year-old in the closer position despite Jansen's uncharacteristic struggles this season.

Iglesias (2-11) blew the save and took the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. When asked after the game if Iglesias would be moved out of the closer role, manager David Bell said that the Reds need to make sure Iglesias doesn't lose his confidence "no matter what situation he is pitching in," Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Iglesias allowed all three batters he faced to reach and now has two blown saves and three losses on the road trip, bringing his total to 11 losses this season, the most for a reliever in club history. Bell has stuck by Iglesias all year and his statements after the game don't make clear that a role change is coming, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to justify keeping Iglesias in the top spot. In fact, a case can be made that Iglesias is the Reds' fourth best reliever at this point, behind (in some order) Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett and Robert Stephenson.

Hader retired all five batters he faced in Saturday's game against the Cubs -- two via strikeout -- to earn his 27th save of the season.

Manager Craig Counsell called upon Hader in the eighth inning with Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez due up for Chicago in a 2-0 game. Hader retired Rizzo and Baez on four total pitches and then breezed through the ninth on eight pitches. The lefty seems to be getting on track after four blown saves in his first five chances of August, as he's now turned in three straight scoreless appearances with two hits allowed and a 5:0 K:BB during that span.

Yates struck out all three batters he faced to convert his 39th save of the season in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Giants.

Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Alex Dickerson all went down in order as Yates threw 11 of his 15 pitches for strikes. The closer picked up eight saves in 13 appearances in August, pitching to a 2.31 ERA. He's had better months, with a 1.29 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 55.2 innings this season, but the 32-year-old has been nothing short of excellent all season.

Graveman (elbow) advanced his rehab assignment to Triple-A Iowa and will start Sunday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Graveman made his first rehab outing Aug. 22 with the Arizona League Cubs, his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last July. The 28-year-old still has plenty of work to do in his recovery, but the progression to game action is a significant step.