MLB Player News

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

He'll give up his spot on the 28-man active roster to left-hander Cooper Hjerpe, who is expected to pitch behind starter Kyle Leahy in Sunday's game against the Rockies. After getting his first big-league call-up Sept. 1, Rincon appeared in two games out of the St. Louis bullpen and surrendered seven earned runs on five hits and one walk over 1.1 innings.

The Cardinals recalled Hjerpe from Triple-A Memphis, and he's expected to pitch behind starter Kyle Leahy in Sunday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

After getting bumped up from Double-A Springfield in early August, Hjerpe posted a 0.95 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB across 19 innings in his first five starts for Memphis. He will now get his first call to the big leagues and will be asked to provide length behind Leahy, whose workload is being managed down the stretch. Leahy has failed to last five frames in each of his past two starts but has given up two runs or fewer in each of his past 12 outings, so Hjerpe could have a decent chance at a win if Leahy has another short but effective start Sunday. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals plan to keep Hjerpe on a starter's workload moving forward, so he could piggyback Leahy in future turns through the rotation.

Manager Craig Counsell said he "fully expects" Webb (forearm) to be available to pitch Sunday against the Marlins, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The right-hander hasn't taken the mound since being struck by a 102.5-mph comebacker Wednesday against the Brewers, but he avoided a fracture and appears good to go after taking it easy for a few days. Webb has surrendered seven runs across his past four appearances but is still in the mix at closer for the Cubs, having recorded nine saves with a 3.15 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 65:21 K:BB over 60 innings this year.

The Mets optioned Yan to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Yan performed well after being called up in early August with three runs allowed in his first nine appearances, but he'll now head back to Syracuse after surrendering five earned runs in his past four outings. Tobias Myers will fill the open roster spot for the Mets.

The Mets recalled Myers from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

The right-hander has been at Triple-A since just before the All-Star break but will rejoin the Mets after giving up just two earned runs with a 17:2 K:BB across his past six appearances (14.2 innings) for Syracuse. Myers has struggled to a 6.26 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB over 46 frames in the majors this year and should immediately be available in long relief.

The Reds reinstated Ashcraft (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The right-hander has been sidelined since May due to a UCL sprain in his elbow, but he's ready to rejoin Cincinnati's bullpen after a five-outing rehab assignment. Ashcraft had one save and 10 holds with a 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 32:16 K:BB across 27 innings prior to the injury, but he could be eased back into a high-leverage role.

Duran struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 30th save of the season in a 4-2 win over Atlanta.

The right-hander hasn't blown a save chance since his last appearance in July, posting a 0.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB in 16 innings since the calendar flipped to August. Duran's 30 saves have him two shy of the career-high 32 he collected last season, and he's tied for third in the National League behind the Cardinals' Riley O'Brien (36) and the Padres' Mason Miller (32).

Pagan earned the save in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Brewers, allowing two hits and one walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Pagan was called on to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam to close the door. The 35-year-old has now converted 15 straight save opportunities, and he owns a 2.25 ERA over 20 second-half appearances. On the year, he's 21-for-24 in save chances with a 3.96 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 37:10 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

Assad didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins, giving up three runs on three hits and five walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

Called up earlier in the day for a spot start, Assad held Miami off the scoreboard for three innings before his control issues caught up to him. The right-hander exited after 88 pitches (51 strikes) with the Cubs ahead 5-2, as he missed a chance to record his seventh win of the season and tie his career high. It's not yet clear if Chicago will keep Assad around as a sixth starter or long reliever, or option him back to Triple-A Iowa in exchange for a fresh arm, but over five appearances and 18.1 big-league innings since the beginning of August he's delivered a 2.95 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB.

Zeferjahn tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Marlins. He walked one and struck out one.

With regular closer Jacob Webb (forearm) remaining out of action, Zeferjahn recorded his fifth save of the season and first since Aug. 2, when he was still a member of the Angels before getting traded to Chicago a day later. The righty reliever hasn't been particularly sharp with the Cubs yet, as he's recorded a 5.68 ERA across 12.2 innings with his new team. Zeferjahn still misses plenty of bats, and he should be given chances to turn things around down the stretch as a key member of Chicago's bullpen.