MLB Player News

Jackson allowed an unearned run on two hits during the ninth inning but still recorded his 10th save in a 6-5 victory against the Pirates on Thursday.

The Braves closer recorded the first two outs of the frame via the ground ball, one of which was produced on a nice bare-handed play from Dansby Swanson. Jackson gave up a double and infield single to the next two batters, but because the first baserunner advanced to third base on a passed ball before the single, the run was unearned. Still, Jackson has given up runs in four of his last five outings. He is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 34 innings. Jackson is also 10-for-15 in save chances.

Cabrera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis prior to Thursday's game against the Mets.

Ryan Helsley (shoulder impingement) landed on the injured list, so the Cardinals needed a fresh bullpen arm. Cabrera has only worked as a starter this year and last pitched June 9, so he could piggyback Daniel Ponce de Leon's start Friday in New York.

Helsley (right shoulder impingement) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Helsley will receive an anti-inflammatory, which should allow him to resume playing catch within a few days. The right-hander has been up and down between the majors and Triple-A this year and logged a 3.48 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 10.1 innings as he adjusts to a new role as a reliever. Genesis Cabrera was summoned to take his spot in the bullpen.

Brebbia, who allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk while recording a strikeout over an inning in a loss to the Marlins on Wednesday, now has a 15.75 ERA over the four innings covering his five appearances in June.

Heading into June, Brebbia was mostly cruising, as he sported a 1.53 ERA and seven holds across 29.1 innings. However, he's subsequently allowed multiple earned runs in three of his five outings during the current month, a stretch that's been in stark contrast to the caliber of effort he'd turned in the first two months-plus of the campaign. Brebbia's rising 3.24 ERA and 1.08 WHIP are both certainly solid numbers in a vacuum, but they lose some of their luster when compared to earlier in the season.

Webb, who fired 1.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a loss to the Marlins on Wednesday, has a 1.50 ERA, .100 WHIP and .132 BAA in the 12 innings covering his last 10 appearances.

The southpaw has been much improved after a rocky start to the season, one that saw his ERA sitting at 6.55 after a May 16 outing against the Braves. Webb has whittled that figure down to 3.91 over the aforementioned stretch of strong pitching, allowing just a pair of earned runs on five hits during that span. His continued success would be a boon for the fortunes of the Cardinals bullpen, considering Webb is only one of two healthy left-handed relievers available to manager Mike Shildt at present.

Hader threw a scoreless 10th inning in Wednesday's 14-inning victory over the Astros.

Manager Craig Counsell may have envisioned Hader pitching two innings Wednesday if needed, but Hader was not particularly sharp, walking two batters and failing to record a strikeout for just the second time in 26 appearances this season. Regardless, Hader got the job done, and lowered his ERA to 2.14 in the process. He remains the closer for the Brewers.

Yamamoto (1-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's 9-0 victory over the Cardinals, giving up three hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings while striking out five.

It was a dazzling MLB debut for the right-hander. Yamamoto chiefly ran into trouble in the fourth inning, as a Paul DeJong double and Paul Goldschmidt single put runners on the corners with nobody out, but the rookie calmly got Marcell Ozuna to foul out before coaxing a double play out of Yadier Molina. Yamamoto's big-league assignment is likely temporary, with neither Caleb Smith (hip) nor Jose Urena (back) expected to be out for long, but he should get at least one more turn in the rotation -- a rematch with the Cards in St. Louis on Monday.

Helsley is expected to be placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement after exiting Wednesday's loss to the Marlins, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Helsley will be traveling with the team to New York to be examined by Dr. George Paletta, but that evaluation is expected to reveal that his throwing shoulder will need some time off. Prior to being pulled, Helsley had thrown 13 pitches during a sixth inning in which he saw his velocity take a dip, a red flag that was a harbinger of his shoulder issue. "It's not really painful, I just couldn't really get loose," said Helsley, who has a 3.48 ERA in seven big league appearances in 2019. "Obviously my velo was down a little bit, which always raises concerns. Take a couple days off and go from there."

Smith picked up the save against the Padres on Wednesday, firing a scoreless ninth inning and allowing a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout.

Smith faltered ever so slightly, but he managed to keep his unblemished save record intact. The 29-year-old is in the midst of an extended stretch of impressive pitching, as he hasn't allowed a run since May 18 against the Diamondbacks. The top-tier closer now owns a shiny 2.03 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 38:6 K:BB through 27 appearances.

Curtiss signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Wednesday, Roster Roundup reports.

Curtiss declined an assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake last week after being designated for assignment by the Angels. The 26-year-old struggled with a 5.91 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB over 21.1 innings with the Bees prior to hitting free agency.