MLB Player News

The Cardinals recalled Svanson from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Svanson was sent down last month after posting a disappointing 8.77 ERA and 26:15 K:BB over 25.2 innings. He seemed to get back on track at Memphis, tossing 5.2 scoreless frames with an 8:1 K:BB. Svanson will likely be used in middle relief.

The Cardinals placed Fernandez on the 15-day injured list Friday with lower-back pain.

Fernandez hadn't pitched in nearly a week, so it could be an injury that's nagged at him for a while. Matt Svanson will take his spot in the St. Louis bullpen.

Vesia was charged with a blown save Thursday versus Arizona, as he allowed an inherited runner to score while giving up one hit over two-thirds of an inning.

Vesia has been very reliable this season, and he was called upon in the eighth inning with the Dodgers up a run with one out and runners on first and second. The lefty was able to retire the first batter he faced before Geraldo Perdomo stroked a single to center field to tie the game up. It was the first blown save of the season for Vesia, though he still managed to extend his streak of scoreless outings to 10 since the run wasn't charged to him. With Edwin Diaz sidelined due to an elbow injury, Tanner Scott has taken over as Los Angeles' top closer, but Vesia is tied for the team lead with eight holds and has notched two saves while posting a 2.14 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB over 21 innings spanning 27 appearances.

The Giants optioned Ramos to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ramos received his first big-league promotion this week but was knocked around for five runs with a 1:4 K:BB over two innings. He's being replaced in the bullpen by Carson Seymour.

The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

He's being sent out in order to make space on the roster for the return of Edward Cabrera (finger), who will start Friday's game against the Giants. Ferguson was promoted earlier this week and did not make an appearance during this stint with the big club.

The Reds outrighted Leibrandt to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

Having been outrighted previously, Leibrandt has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent, but it's unclear what his plans are. The southpaw saved the Reds' bullpen earlier this week by eating six innings and allowing five runs in a relief appearance Monday versus the Royals.

Phillips (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, yielding one hit and one walk over two-thirds of a scoreless frame.

Phillips struck out one batter and averaged 95.7 mph with his four-seamer, which is up 0.3 mph from last season. The righty is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and will likely need a fairly lengthy rehab assignment before rejoining the Dodgers' active roster.

Manager Torey Lovullo revealed that Clarke is expected to return from the bereavement list Sunday versus the Nationals, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

With the right-hander returning Sunday, he will have spent the minimum three games on the bereavement list. Kade Strowd or Philip Abner are likely candidates to be sent down to make room for Clarke since they both joined the big club Thursday.

X-rays on Anderson's right forearm came back negative following his removal from Thursday's game against the Giants, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Anderson was pulled from the game after taking an 89.6-mph line drive off his right forearm in the seventh inning. He managed to escape the incident with nothing more than a bruise and will travel with the team for its upcoming road series in Colorado, but he could still be held out of action for a game or two to give his forearm a chance to recover.

Manager Pat Murphy said after Thursday's game against the Giants that Hall was removed due to left pectoral discomfort, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Murphy added that Hall is slated to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury, so more information on his status may be available ahead of the Brewers' series opener against Colorado on Friday. The 27-year-old southpaw has been enjoying one of the best seasons of his career so far, posting a 2.03 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through 31 innings.