MLB Player News

The Cardinals recalled Granillo from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

St. Louis optioned Granillo to Triple-A on Monday, but he didn't make an appearance for Memphis before he was called back to the big club to join the bullpen as a replacement for John King (back), who landed on the injured list. Granillo is likely to take on a low-leverage role for the Cardinals after logging a 4.82 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB in 18.2 innings through his first 12 relief appearances in the majors.

The Cardinals placed King on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a mid-back strain.

King had been on the shelf from July 30 through this past Saturday due to an oblique strain, and despite having not made a relief appearance since being activated Sunday, the left-hander will head back to the IL with a new injury. St. Louis recalled right-hander Andre Granillo from Triple-A Memphis to replace King in the bullpen.

Walker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates.

Walker started in each of the previous four games, which had been preceded by a four-game stretch when he made only one start. The 23-year-old is slashing just .234/.269/.297 in August and .231/.285/.318 on the season. Lars Nootbaar will handle right field and Nathan Church will play center field for the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Arraez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Seattle.

Arraez had started every game since May 27 for the Padres, but he'll take a seat in Wednesday's series finale as he battles through a 2-for-18 slump at the plate. Jake Cronenworth will slide over to first base and Jose Iglesias will man second base in the rubber match.

Sanoja is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Sanoja will hit the bench for the second time in the series and may have settled into more of a timeshare at third base with Maximo Acosta, who will replace him in the lineup Wednesday. Both Sanoja and Acosta are likely to see their opportunities to play at third base diminish once Connor Norby (wrist) completes his minor-league rehab assignment and is activated from the 10-day injured list.

Estrada earned a hold against Seattle on Tuesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in one inning.

Estrada entered in a very high-leverage situation, taking the mound with San Diego up by one run the eighth inning. The right-hander allowed a leadoff single but nothing more, getting out of the frame with the lead intact. Mason Miller was used one inning before Estrada, but that doesn't necessarily reflect the Padres' bullpen hierarchy, as Miller was summoned to face the heart of Seattle's order. Nonetheless, Estrada continues to be a trusted late-inning option for San Diego -- he has a career-high 27 holds on the campaign, tied for fourth most in the majors.

Johnston is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

With a lefty (Joey Wentz) on the hill for Atlanta, the left-handed-hitting Johnston will head to the bench for the series finale. Johnston had started in each of Miami's last seven games at first base or in left or right field, going 8-for-20 with one double, two walks and three RBI during that stretch.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Since getting the call to the big leagues April 21, Ramirez has shouldered one of the heavier workloads among all backstops in baseball, as he's often served as the designated hitter on his non-catching days. The Marlins will give Ramirez a rare day off from both playing defense and hitting, as he'll take a seat after starting in each of the last 14 games. Liam Hicks will step in behind the plate Wednesday, and Heriberto Hernandez will get the nod at DH.

Tong, who will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Friday's game against the Marlins, won't be guaranteed any additional turns through the big-league rotation, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of the Athletic report. "We're going turn by turn at this point," president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday. "We try not to plan too far ahead."

The minor-league strikeout leader will make his MLB debut Friday as the Mets build in an extra day of rest for other members of the rotation amid a busy portion of the schedule. Whether Tong forces New York to stick with a six-man rotation moving forward or bumps one of the veterans starters to the bullpen will likely depend on how he fares Friday, and whether he gives the club the best chance to win games in a tight playoff race.

Butto picked up a hold over two-thirds of a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Cubs, striking out one.

Butto recorded his third consecutive scoreless outing, throwing four of his seven pitches for strikes after entering with one out in the eighth inning. Over 11 appearances since being traded to the Giants, the right-hander has recorded a 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings. Overall, he owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 51:25 K:BB over 57.1 innings in 45 games between the Giants and Mets.