MLB Player News

The Cardinals activated Stanek from the paternity leave list Friday.

Stanek missed the series earlier this week in Atlanta as he welcomed a new baby to the family, but he's active ahead of the Cardinals' weekend set against the rival Cubs. Gordon Graceffo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in order to make room on the roster.

The Marlins recalled Kempner from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Kempner was sent down last month despite logging nine scoreless innings with a 10:2 K:BB in six relief appearances. The 25-year-old will likely fill a middle relief role, but his stay in the majors could be brief as the Marlins will need a spot next week for a fifth starter, expected to be Janson Junk (shin).

The Cubs selected Pomeranz's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Pomeranz was cut loose by the Angels in mid-June after turning in a 5.01 ERA and 16:12 K:BB across 23.1 innings. The veteran left-hander excelled with the Cubs in 2025, logging a 2.17 ERA and 57:15 K:BB over 49.2 innings, and he'll aim to rediscover that form after making two scoreless appearances for Iowa.

Zastryzny (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with the Brewers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Shoulder and intercostal injuries have kept Zastryzny on the shelf all season, but he's ready to test things out in game action. The lefty reliever will eventually move up to a higher affiliate and could be ready to join the Brewers' bullpen around the All-Star break.

Graceffo (6-1) tossed a perfect inning and was credited with the win Thursday in Atlanta.

Graceffo needed only nine pitches to cruise through the bottom of the sixth inning, vulturing another win after the Cardinals' offense exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh. While he has managed to post a 3.35 ERA and 1.12 WHIP to go along with his six victories, five holds and one save in 35 appearances, Graceffo's 18:19 K:BB over 40.1 innings isn't pretty.

Bruihl logged 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Thursday's win over Atlanta.

Bruihl was first out of the bullpen for the Cardinals after starter Dustin May exited with an ankle injury after retiring just two batters. The team's bullpen wound up turning in 8.1 scoreless frames in a comeback victory. Bruihl got off to a rocky start this season but has settled in, authoring a 1.04 ERA and 15:2 K:BB over 17.1 innings covering his last 13 appearances.

Mikolas will appeal the five-game suspension he received Thursday and will be eligible to pitch for the Nationals until the appeal process is completed, Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports.

MLB issued bans for Mikolas and teammate Cade Cavalli (seven games) along with Boston's Willson Contreras (seven games) and Nate Eaton (three games) for their roles in a benches-clearing incident Tuesday. Mikolas' suspension was set to begin Friday, but the 37-year-old righty's appeal will keep in line to make his scheduled start Sunday against the Pirates. One or both Nationals pitchers could end up dropping their appeals at a more opportune time as the team figures out how to juggle the two looming absences from its rotation.

Gordon is slated to start Sunday's game against the Giants at Coors Field, Kevin Henry of The Denver Gazette reports.

After being touched up by the Marlins for five runs in five innings during his return from the injured list Tuesday, Gordon carries a 6.69 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 40.1 innings across 10 appearances (three starts) this season. Despite that rough outing, the right-hander will be awarded a second turn through the rotation, but his grip on a starting role is tenuous. The Rockies called up one of their top pitching prospects, Gabriel Hughes, from Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday, and while he's slated to work out of the bullpen initially, he could get a look as the club's No. 5 starter later this summer.

Triple-A Oklahoma City placed Eder on its 7-day injured list Wednesday due to an unspecified injury.

Eder hasn't made an appearance at the big-league level since May 2. The left-hander has spent most of the campaign at Oklahoma City, turning in a 4.29 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB over 21 innings.

The Phillies will recall Banks from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to Saturday's game in Kansas City, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The Phillies have a rare Friday off day because of the World Cup going on in Kansas City, so the Banks transaction will become official Saturday. Banks has posted a 5.86 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 27.2 frames with the big club this season.