MLB Player News

The Cardinals optioned Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Roycroft will return to Memphis after he was called up ahead of the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with Atlanta to serve as the Cardinals' 27th man for the twin bill. He struck out two and collected his first career hold in a perfect inning out of the bullpen in the Cardinals' 4-1 win in Game 2.

The Twins selected Festa's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Festa is set to make his major-league debut with a road start Thursday versus the Diamondbacks. The right-hander has posted a 3.77 ERA and 87:24 K:BB over 59.2 innings during his time with St. Paul this season, reaching 10 punchouts in a game on three occasions. Festa is taking the rotation spot vacated by Chris Paddack (arm) and will have the opportunity to make additional starts beyond Thursday's debut if he pitches well.

The Twins optioned Henriquez to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Henriquez will head back to the minors as the Twins clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for right-hander David Festa, who was called up from St. Paul to start Thursday's game in Arizona. During his two-day stay with the Twins, Henriquez made one appearance, tossing a scoreless inning and striking out a batter in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Nittoli agreed to a one-year contract with the Cubs on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Cubs will hope that Nittoli can bolster a bullpen that ranks 24th in the majors this season with a collective 4.52 ERA. The 33-year-old previously made seven appearances in the big leagues with the Athletics this season, logging a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in eight innings prior to being moved off the 40-man roster and electing free agency last week.

Thornton recorded the first save of his MLB career in a win over the Rays on Wednesday, firing a perfect ninth inning.

Ryne Stanek worked the eighth and Andres Munoz faltered with the save opportunity to open the ninth, failing to record an out and leaving Thornton to inherit a bases-loaded jam. The right-hander deftly managed the dangerous scenario, inducing a fielder's choice groundout from Richie Palacios that allowed Josh Lowe to score but then retiring Amed Rosario on a game-ending double play. The one run went on Munoz's tab, affording Thornton his sixth scoreless outing in his last eight trips to the mound -- including his third straight -- as well as his first career save.

Quijada (elbow) struck out the side in his first rehab appearance with the Angels' Arizona Complex League affiliate Wednesday.

It's a promising start as Quijada continues down the comeback trail from last May's Tommy John surgery. The left-hander will eventually move up to a higher affiliate and figures to need most, if not all, of the 30-day allotment for his rehab assignment.

Ferrer (shoulder) was sent to the Nationals' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Thursday to begin a rehab assignment.

Ferrer has been out all season with a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder but has finally been cleared for game action. The lefty's rehab assignment should be fairly lengthy given how much time he's missed, and he's not a given to be added to the major-league roster once his time on the 60-day injured list is over.

Doval picked up the save over the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one hit over a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one.

Doval entered the contest with a one-run lead in the ninth and surrendered a leadoff single to Dansby Swanson before retiring the next three batters in succession to secure his 14th save of the campaign. The right-hander has now converted each of his last five save attempts and has allowed only one baserunner over his last three appearances. Doval has also posted at least one strikeout in three consecutive outings.

Chapman struck out two without allowing a baserunner across a scoreless ninth inning against the Reds on Wednesday.

Chapman entered the game in the ninth inning with a five-run lead, marking his first appearance since Saturday. He struggled to begin the season but has pitched well for significant stretches, most recently allowing two earned runs across 8.2 innings in June while posting a 13:4 K:BB. Chapman should see most of Pittsburgh's save chances while David Bednar (oblique) is sidelined.

Wesneski did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Giants on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk over four innings while striking out seven.

Wesneski got off to a solid start, striking out four of the first six batters he faced before surrendering back-to-back home runs to Michael Conforto and David Villar in the second. The right-hander would go 1-2-3 through the next two innings before being relieved by Drew Smyly to open the fifth, though the former would still finish with his second-highest strikeout total of the season. It also marked Wesneski's longest outing since May 8 against the Padres when he went six innings.