MLB Player News

The Cubs recalled Thompson from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

With Brad Boxberger (forearm) headed for the injured list, Thompson will rejoin the Cubs' bullpen to provide depth for the final week-plus of the season. Thompson holds a 4.71 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 28.2 innings in the majors this year and will likely serve in middle relief while with Chicago.

The Cubs placed Boxberger on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Boxberger already missed nearly four months earlier this year due to a forearm injury, and his latest trip to the injured list will keep him out for the rest of the regular season and the first part of a potential Cubs playoff run. Keegan Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to fill Boxberger's spot in the bullpen.

Brebbia will open Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Brebbia has been used as an opener often this season, as Saturday will mark his ninth time starting on the mound. Brebbia has given up four runs (three earned) over 5.2 innings since returning from the injured list Sept. 5, and he will presumably stay in the game for an inning or two before turning things over to Ross Stripling.

Cubs manager David Ross said Saturday that Assad will pitch out of the bullpen going forward, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

With Marcus Stroman returning to the rotation and starting Saturday, Assad will officially end up as the odd man out. The 26-year-old righty has given up eight runs over 13.2 innings across his last three starts and will serve as a multi-inning reliever during the Cubs' final push for a playoff berth.

Alzolay (forearm) will play catch Saturday after his bullpen session Friday went well, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Alzolay will be eligible to return from a forearm strain as soon as Tuesday, and given his steady progress, a return on or around that date would seem to be in play. The Cubs enter play Saturday with a one-game lead for the third and final NL Wild Card spot, so they'll want to have Alzolay available for as much of the final week as possible if he is indeed cleared to return.

The Cardinals list Woodford as their probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Padres in San Diego.

Before he was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Woodford had been getting stretched out as a starter in the minors, covering no fewer than three innings in any of his last four outings. However, the Cardinals deployed him out of the bullpen against Milwaukee on Tuesday, when he struck out three over 2.2 scoreless innings. Though he'll be starting Saturday, Woodford will be taking the hill on three days' rest, so he probably can't be expected to cover the five innings he would need to hit to qualify for a win. Woodford will be taking the rotation spot of Adam Wainwright, who isn't scheduled to start this weekend but could work out of the bullpen if the Cardinals need someone to eat innings once Woodford exits the contest.

Garcia was charged with a blown save as a result of giving up one run on two hits and a walk against St. Louis on Friday. His only out came via a strikeout.

Garcia was summoned from the bullpen to begin the eighth inning with San Diego clinging to a 2-1 lead. The right-hander couldn't get the job done, allowing a run to score on a Paul Goldschmidt single and a Jordan Walker triple before he was able to record an out. Garcia was then lifted after issuing a one-out walk to Ivan Herrera, but Robert Suarez was able to retire the next two batters without allowing another run to cross the plate to save Garcia's ERA from further damage. After racking up 11 consecutive scoreless appearances covering 13.2 frames between Aug. 19 and Sept. 15, Garcia has now allowed three earned runs across his past three outings covering two innings.

Yarbrough struck out five and was charged with two earned runs on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Giants.

Yarbrough was one of two bulk relievers the Dodgers used behind opener Caleb Ferguson, who exited the contest after one inning. Right-hander Gavin Stone then came on and gave up three earned runs over 4.1 innings before Yarbrough finished out the contest. Since the Giants raced out to a 3-0 lead while Stone was on the mound, Yarbrough was spared the loss. Yarbrough now holds a 3.12 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 36:4 K:BB over 34.2 innings in 10 outings since being acquired from the Royals on Aug. 1.

Jackson struck out two and gave up no hits and two walks over one scoreless inning in his start in Friday's 7-5 win over the Reds.

Jackson had been serving as a traditional starter or bulk reliever for the better part of the month, but he was deployed as more of an opener in Friday's contest. Though the Pirates didn't disclose Jackson was dealing with any reported injury, he tossed just one inning before he was lifted from the contest in favor of Luis Ortiz, who covered 3.2 innings of long relief. The Pirates have been running out a six-man rotation of late, so it's possible that Jackson ends up moving to the bullpen over the final week and a half of the season if manager Derek Shelton feels the team can get by with five starters.

Hoeing surrendered nine earned runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out one over three innings out of the bullpen in Friday's 16-1 loss to the Brewers.

Though he was spared the loss -- which went to fellow reliever Steven Okert -- Hoeing was responsible for most of the damage that occurred in the Brewers' 12-run second inning. He was charged with eight earned runs in the inning, then gave up one more run in the top of the fifth before being pulled from the contest. After the ugly relief outing, Hoeing's season ERA jumped from 4.18 to 5.17.