MLB Player News

Reyes will start Sunday against the Giants.

The Cardinals have not said explicitly that Jaime Garcia is out of the starting rotation for good, but Reyes will take Garcia's turn Sunday in the series finale in San Francisco. Walks have been a big issue for Reyes at the major league level -- he issued six free passes over 4.1 innings in his last appearance -- and while he's been able to limit the damage to this point, he's been somewhat lucky with a strand rate north of 91 percent.

Strop (knee) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

A groin strain delayed Strop's recovery from left knee surgery, but he cleared a major hurdle Thursday with his first bullpen session. He said it went "fine" and he may get back onto elevated ground for more work this weekend. The Cubs are probably just focused on getting Strop back for the postseason, but it appears he has a chance to return for the final week or so of the regular season.

Carasiti possesses a 13.50 ERA and 3.09 WHIP in 10.1 innings of relief this season.

Carasiti was an outstanding reliever in the minors this year, but it seems like his stuff isn't fooling big league hitters whatsoever. Although opposing teams are having no problem scoring off of him, the right-hander does sport a solid 9.3 K/9 during his major league tenure. The 25-year-old managed to stay in Colorado thanks to rosters expanding at the start of September, but he'll have to figure out how to get batters out beyond the strikeout if he wants to vie for a spot in the bullpen next season.

Adleman (2-4) pitched five innings, allowing four runs on three hits while walking three and striking out four in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers.

Adleman walked two to lead off the second, and both came around to score on a bases-loaded single by Brewers catcher Manny Pina. The 28-year-old surrendered two more runs in the third after a two-out walk led to a two-run homer from Scooter Gennett. Adleman settled down and went on to retire the next seven batters, but the damage was already done. The right-hander is in the midst of his worst month of the campaign, owning a 2.06 ERA through three September starts (16 innings).

Hoffman (0-4) took another loss Wednesday in Arizona after giving up seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks in 4.2 innings.

He's now been slammed for seven runs in three of his five starts in the majors, and after allowing another two homers Wednesday, he's up to seven long balls and 30 hits in 23.1 innings. Only two of those starts have come at Coors Field, so there might actually be room for Hoffman's already hideous stats to get even worse.

Gomez came on with two runners on in a 6-2 game in the ninth inning Wednesday, and escaped the jam unscathed for his 37th save of the year.

Gomez had been in a rough patch entering Wednesday, and there was some question as to whether or not he would keep his job as Philadelphia's closer, despite the large number of saves he had amassed. Gomez may still be on thin ice after the solid job Wednesday, as teammate Hector Neris's 2.30 ERA is more than a full point better than Gomez's 3.66 figure.

Jansen struck out the side while allowing a single to lock down his 44th save of the season against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Jansen has been practically untouchable in 2016, posting a 1.75 ERA and a career-best 0.65 WHIP. His 43 saves trail only Jeurys Familia of the Mets, and opponents are hitting just .150 against him. He has 94 strikeouts to only 9 walks.

Melancon threw a perfect ninth inning Wednesday against the Mets, locking down a 1-0 lead for his 42nd save of the season.

Melancon bounded back quickly from his Tuesday loss, retiring the heart of the Mets' lineup in order. Melancon's 42 saves are tied for third most in the majors, and his 1.71 ERA trails only Baltimore's Zach Britton among closers with at least 15 save opportunities.

Gsellman stymied the Nationals for the second time in less than two weeks, throwing 5.2 innings of shut out ball Wednesday.

Gsellman allowed one run in six innings on September 3 to defeat Washington. Wednesday, he allowed five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in his scoreless outing. Gsellman left the game with a runner in and two outs, who was stranded when Josh Smoker struck out Bryce Harper. He now has a 3.08 ERA in 26.1 innings and likely will remain in the rotation, even with the possible returns of Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz.

Reyes could replace Jaime Garcia in the rotation on Sunday in San Francisco, MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports.

Garcia is on thin ice, having allowed 10 home runs over his last six starts, as he seems to be suffering from fatigue. Reyes on the other hand, has allowed just four runs over 28 MLB innings, and while he still walks too many batters (14.2 percent walk rate), he has used his electric arsenal to regularly strand runners who get on via the free pass. The Cardinals seemingly hoped to keep Reyes in a valuable bullpen role down the stretch, but Garcia's struggles may force manager Mike Matheny's hand. Regardless of whether he joins the rotation this weekend, Reyes should be owned in the majority of formats.