MLB Player News

Graceffo will draw the start Thursday against the Orioles in what's expected to be a bullpen game for the Cardinals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Graceffo is a former starting pitcher, but he's been a full-time reliever in 2026 and hasn't thrown more than 28 pitches in any of his last eight appearances. Once Graceffo exits the game after likely pitching the first inning or two, the Cardinals will lean on a collection of relievers as they aim to avoid a series sweep.

The Cardinals placed Strzelecki on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right forearm extensor inflammation.

Strzelecki has been worked hard by the Cardinals this month, throwing 30-plus pitches in all six of his appearances, so it's not terribly surprising he's now hurt. It's unclear how much time the reliever will miss.

The Cardinals selected Winquest's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Winquest made the Yankees' Opening Day roster as a Rule 5 pick, but he was returned to the Cardinals before making an appearance. The 26-year-old right-hander got off to a slow start this season and missed some time with an undisclosed injury, but he's been locked in since the calendar flipped to August, tossing 10.1 scoreless innings with just three hits allowed and a 17:5 K:BB. Winquest will be making his major-league debut when he enters a game.

Nori (lower body) went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs Tuesday for Double-A Reading after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.

Nori had been on the shelf since June 9 due to a lower-body injury and completed a five-game rehab assignment between Single-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore before rejoining Reading. Through 53 games in the Eastern League this season, the 21-year-old outfielder is hitting .250/.313/.377 with three home runs and 13 stolen bases.

Ortiz is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rockies.

Ortiz is just 3-for-32 at the plate across his last nine contests, so he will get a day to regroup. Andres Chaparro will play first base for the Nationals, and CJ Abrams is getting another start in the designated-hitter spot.

Whitcomb went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Reds.

Whitcomb doubled in the second inning before coming around to score, and he launched a two-run homer to left-center field in the sixth. The 27-year-old was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Monday and has started each of San Francisco's last three games. He launched his first Giants home run Wednesday and is now slashing .147/.171/.441 with seven RBI, four runs scored and three long balls across 35 plate appearances between San Francisco and Houston this season.

Cox went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Reds.

Cox got San Francisco on the scoreboard with a two-run homer in the second inning, and he drew a leadoff walk in the fifth before coming around to score. He's homered in two of his last three outings and is batting .240 with four runs scored, three RBI and two home runs in 26 plate appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Aug. 14. Overall, he's slashing .255/.269/.529 with nine runs scored, six RBI, four stolen bases and three long balls across 55 plate appearances at the big-league level this season.

Devers went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Reds.

Devers hit a single in the first inning and added a two-run homer in the fifth. He was also intentionally walked in the eighth frame. The veteran infielder has homered in three straight games, batting .455 with six RBI, five runs scored and three home runs in 13 plate appearances during that stretch. He's up to 29 long balls on the year and is now slashing .246/.324/.486 with 76 RBI, 74 runs scored and a 25.9 percent strikeout rate across 564 plate appearances this season.

Moniak is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Nationals.

It's a routine day off for Moniak, who started each of the previous seven contests. The 28-year-old is just 5-for-33 at the plate during that stretch. Zac Veen, Cole Carrigg and Troy Johnston will play the outfield and Jake McCarthy will slot in at designated hitter for the Rockies.

Goodman is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Nationals.

Goodman homered in each of the first two games of the series after returning from the injured list, but he will get a breather during Thursday's afternoon tilt. Brett Sullivan will step in at catcher for the Rockies.