Ortiz allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Thursday.

Ortiz held the Cardinals scoreless over the first three innings before St. Louis put up a run in the fourth and another in the sixth. The right-hander notched his sixth quality start of the campaign, which is more impressive when considering that only 14 of his 36 appearances have come as a starter. Ortiz also tied his season high with seven punchouts Thursday, a mark he's now achieved three times.

Walker (9-4) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Thursday versus the Orioles.

Walker allowed multiple runs for the first time since July 9 as he gave up a walk-off, two-run home run to Anthony Santander in the ninth inning. The Giants' closer had not given up an earned run over his previous 20.2 innings, and he entered Thursday on a 12-inning scoreless streak. He avoided a blown save since this misstep came in a tie game. Walker has eight saves, four blown saves and 22 holds with a 1.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and a 98:17 K:BB through 77 innings this season.

Hodge worked around a hit and walk to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and record the save in Thursday's 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Hodge made things interesting by putting the two runners on, but unlike his last appearance on Saturday when he blew a save, the righty shut the door this time around. While Hodge is only 6-for-9 in save opportunities, the rookie has been mostly excellent with a 2.03 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 48 strikeouts across 40 innings this year. The 23-year-old should remain Chicago's closer for the final nine games of the regular season.

Merryweather will undergo surgery on his right knee Friday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Merryweather has been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa since last Friday, during which he's thrown two scoreless innings while striking out three batters and walking one. However, his attempt at a return this season will be put to an abrupt end, as he's elected to undergo surgery to address the tendinitis in his knee. A recovery timeline will likely emerge after the 32-year-old goes under the knife.

Scott picked up a save against Houston on Wednesday by retiring both batters he faced, including one by strikeout.

Dylan Cease gave San Diego 8.1 scoreless frames, and Scott was brought in to finish off the Astros with a pair of runners on base in the ninth. The reliever struck out Yordan Alvarez, then got Alex Bregman to fly out to end the game. The save was Scott's 21st of the season but his first since Aug. 27, as most of his saves came while he was with Miami prior to the trade deadline. Robert Suarez, who pitched the previous three days, remains the most likely Padres reliever to handle save chances for the club.

The Reds recalled Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

Zulueta has made nine relief appearances with the Reds this season, yielding nine runs (eight earned) with a 14:6 K:BB over 13 frames. He'll provide some bullpen protection for Cincinnati.

The Reds optioned Legumina to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.

Legumina went 1.2 innings and threw 36 pitches out of the bullpen in Wednesday's loss to Atlanta. The Reds are replacing him with a fresh arm in Yosver Zulueta, who was summoned from Louisville.

Bednar (3-8) was charged with a blown save and took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning.

Bednar entered the contest with the score tied in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to give up a leadoff homer to Masyn Winn on a hanging curveball. The right-handed reliever would then manage to retire just one of the next three batters he faced before being relieved by Jalen Beeks, who didn't fare any better. It marked the seventh blown save of the season for Bednar, with his previous one coming back on Aug. 28, just before he was removed from the closer role. He's now allowed at least one run in three of his last six appearances and carries a 5.14 ERA in the month of September to go along with a dreadful 6:8 K:BB.

Junis didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing one run on two hits with no walks across six innings. He struck out six.

Junis retired the first 11 batters and final nine batters he faced during the start, but back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning threw a wrench in his otherwise perfect day. In his last five outings (four starts), Junis has a 1.14 ERA and an 18:1 K:BB across 23.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Guardians in Cleveland his next time out.

Walker picked up the save Wednesday against Baltimore, striking out one batter during a perfect ninth inning.

Walker has converted on eight consecutive saves and hasn't allowed an earned run in 20.2 innings. During that stretch, he's allowed eight hits and has fanned 31 batters. On the year, Walker boasts a 1.77 ERA.