MLB Player News

The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.

Graceffo is the casualty from the 26-man active roster after St. Louis needed to clear a spot for right-hander Jorge Alcala, who was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox. During his latest stint in the big leagues, Graceffo made four appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen and gave up six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks over 6.1 innings.

Manaea conceded four runs on six hits and two walks over four frames while not factoring into the decision in Sunday's 7-6 loss at Milwaukee. He struck out five.

The New York southpaw was cruising through the first three innings, allowing no runs on two hits while his offense supplied him with a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. Manaea conceded three runs in the fourth before being chased after allowing a leadoff single to Isaac Collins in the fifth. Collins then scored when reliever Reed Garrett gave up a homer to the next batter, William Contreras. Manaea tossed a season-high 87 pitches in this appearance, as the Mets continue to limit his usage after he was shelved until July 13 with elbow and oblique injuries. The 33-year-old has pitched to a 4.33 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB over 27 total innings and is tentatively slated to make his next start at home against the Mariners next weekend.

The Rockies are expected to call up Dollander from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Monday's contest against the Cardinals in St. Louis, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

After struggling to a 6.68 ERA over 68.2 innings in 15 starts with the Rockies before being demoted in July 7, Dollander didn't show much improvement with his performance at Albuquerque, logging an 8.74 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 11.1 innings over three starts. Despite his poor numbers at Triple-A, Dollander looks like he'll get another chance to stake a more permanent claim to a rotation spot. Assuming the Rockies opt to keep a five-man rotation intact this week, Anthony Molina or Tanner Gordon could be optioned to Triple-A or send to the bullpen to open up a spot for Dollander.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBI in Sunday's win versus the Mets.

The 27-year-old backstop notched his sixth career multi-homer performance with this effort. Contreras opened his team's scoring with a solo shot off New York starter Sean Manaea in the fourth, and then returned in the fifth to launch a two-run long ball off reliever Reed Garrett. The two-time All-Star is slashing .255/.354/.389 with 12 home runs, five steals, 65 runs scored and 52 RBI in 486 total plate appearances.

Collins went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's victory over the Mets.

The Milwaukee outfielder drew a start as the second batter in the lineup for the third straight contest and made the most of it, slugging his first walk-off homer in the big leagues. Collins launched a 363-foot solo shot off New York reliever Edwin Diaz to give the Brewers their ninth straight win. The 28-year-old Collins has entered the NL Rookie of the Year Award conversation thanks to a strong .295/.395/.448 slash line with eight homers, 13 steals, 45 runs scored and 40 RBI in 316 total plate appearances across 96 games.

Priester did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 7-6 victory over the Mets. He allowed six runs on 10 hits and one walk over 4.1 innings with two strikeouts.

With this 75-pitch outing, Priester snapped a hot streak of five consecutive appearances with a win, during which he fired a 1.99 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 31.2 frames. The New York lineup jumped on the Milwaukee right-hander early, tallying two runs on three hits in the first frame. When all was said and done, Priester wound up conceding 10 hits, matching a career worst previously set Sept. 30, 2023 against the Marlins when he was with Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old, who now sports a 3.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 95:39 K:BB over 118.2 total innings, will look to bounce back in his next start, which currently lines up to come at Cincinnati next weekend.

Saggese will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Saggese will stick in the lineup for the third consecutive game after going 3-for-8 with a double and a run scored in the first two contests. He'll fill in at the keystone for Brendan Donovan (groin) for the second straight day, but assuming Donovan doesn't require a stint on the injured list, Saggese will likely move back into a utility infield role in the near future.

Walker will start in right field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Cubs.

Walker will receive his fifth straight start and appears to have gained a foothold in St. Louis' everyday lineup while he's maintained an .803 OPS since the All-Star break. The left-handed-hitting Lars Nootbaar will be the odd man out of the St. Louis outfield while southpaw Shota Imanaga takes the hill for the Cubs, but it was Victor Scott who was on the bench in two of the Cardinals' previous three matchups with right-handed starting pitchers.

Pozo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

After catching all nine innings of Saturday's 9-1 loss, Pozo will take a seat for the series finale. Pedro Pages will get the nod behind the dish Sunday.

Nootbaar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

The Cubs are sending a lefty (Shota Imanaga) to the hill for the series finale, so the left-handed-hitting Nootbaar will receive the night off. With Nootbaar on the bench, the Cardinals will roll out a starting outfield of Alec Burleson, Victor Scott and Jordan Walker from left to right.