MLB Player News

Jimenez, just activated from the injured list Tuesday, fired a perfect eighth inning during which he struck out the side in a win over the Angels on Thursday, earning his third hold.

The right-hander couldn't have asked for a better return to action, firing 10 of his 14 pitches for strikes in his first appearance since June 18. Jimenez extended his scoreless streak to four appearances with Thursday's blanking, which pushed his ERA and WHIP down to 4.21 and 1.21, respectively.

VerHagen (hip) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.

It was announced Thursday that VerHagen will require season-ending surgery on his hip, so the move to the 60-day IL was no surprise. The 31-year-old inked a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals after spending the previous two seasons in Japan, and he struggled in his return to the majors with a 6.65 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB across 21.2 innings.

Naile was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Naile was called up as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader, so it's no surprise he's headed back to the minors. The 29-year-old didn't allow a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning Thursday and has given up only two hits with a 4:0 K:BB across six major-league frames overall this year.

Ridings (shoulder) announced Thursday via his personal Twitter account that he completed a bullpen session.

Ridings has been on the injured list all season while recovering from a right shoulder impingement that surfaced early in spring training. Due to his lengthy layoff, Ridings will likely require at least a few weeks to build up and complete a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 60-day IL.

Lamet was claimed off waivers by the Rockies on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Lamet was acquired by the Brewers in the trade that sent Josh Hader to San Diego on Monday, but he was designated for assignment just two days later after the Brewers added more relief depth. Lamet has had a poor 2022 campaign, struggling to a 9.49 ERA and a 14.5 percent walk rate in 13 relief appearances at the big-league level, but the Rockies have little reason not to take a flier on a pitcher who has flashed plenty of potential both as a starter and as a reliever.

Clarke (3-1) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in one inning Thursday, earning the win over the Red Sox.

Clarke took a blown save by allowing the tying run to score in the seventh inning. He ended up with the win after the Royals rallied for four runs in their half of the frame. Since the start of July, Clarke has allowed two runs with a 12:4 K:BB across 13 innings in 12 appearances. The right-hander has a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 41:8 K:BB, two saves, 10 holds and five blown saves through 45.1 innings this year. As long as he doesn't completely go off the rails, he should see regular setup work over the last two months of the season.

Hicks (3-5) earned the win in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. He allowed a run on a hit and two walks in one inning.

The Cubs tied the game at 2-2 against Hicks in the seventh inning, but Tyler O'Neill's three-run home run in the bottom of the frame put the Cardinals ahead again. In his last 5.1 innings, Hicks has surrendered seven runs on five hits, four walks and two hit batters. He had some promising results in early July after moving back to the bullpen, but his recent form is likely to keep him in a middle-relief role. For the season, the right-hander owns a 4.93 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 38:28 K:BB across 42 innings through 20 appearances (eight starts).

Helsley (6-1) earned the win in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. He allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Helsley kept the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning, and Lars Nootbaar delivered a walkoff single in the bottom of the frame. Save chances haven't been that prevalent for the Cardinals lately -- Helsley last recorded one July 23, though he's strung together an 8.1-inning scoreless streak in his last eight outings. The hard-throwing righty owns a 0.62 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 66:12 K:BB with nine saves, six holds and three blown saves through 43.1 innings.

Bowlan (elbow) has given up 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and three walks while striking out nine across 7.1 innings in his two starts since being activated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list July 26.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery early last summer, the 25-year-old right-hander looks to be healthy again. He's been rusty in his first two outings since returning to action for Northwest Arkansas, and keeping the ball in the yard -- he's allowed four home runs in two starts -- has proven to be a challenge in particular. Though Bowlan is one of the Royals' better pitching prospects, he likely won't be a realistic option to join the big-league rotation until at least 2023.

Nance (groin) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and will begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Nance landed on the injured list July 24 but is closing in on a return. It's not yet clear how many rehab appearances the right-hander will make, but it's possible that he rejoins the Marlins' bullpen as early as next week.