MLB Player News

O'Brien (forearm) has been playing long toss as he continues a throwing progression, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

O'Brien is working his way back from a right flexor strain. He was shifted to the 60-day injured list last week, so the right-hander won't be eligible for activation until the end of May. It's not clear when he might be ready to throw bullpen sessions.

Middleton (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Tuesday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Middleton is finally ready to test things out in a game setting after being diagnosed with a right forearm strain back in mid-March. Because he's missed so much time, Middleton figures to require a fairly lengthy rehab assignment before joining the Cardinals' bullpen.

Ginkel allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning, picking up a blown save in Monday's 6-5 win over Cincinnati.

Ginkel failed to hold an eighth-inning lead for a second consecutive appearance. He's allowed runs in three of the last four outings, all since he slid back from closer to a setup role.

Leahy (1-1) struck out three over 2.2 perfect innings to earn the win Monday over Angels.

Starter Matthew Liberatore labored through 3.1 innings, while Leahy was sharp and kept the Cardinals' deficit at four runs. The team's offense made a rare explosion with eight runs in the seventh inning, and they held the lead the rest of the way to get Leahy his first big-league win. The right-hander has a 5.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB over 9.2 innings through five appearances as a long reliever this season. With Liberatore still not stretched out as a starter, Leahy could continue to piggyback him while Steven Matz (back) is on the injured list.

Diaz (1-2) allowed two runs on a hit, a hit batsman and two walks without striking out a batter in one-third of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Monday versus the Diamondbacks.

Diaz loaded the bases with back-to-back one-out walks, and Kevin Newman delivered the walk-off two-run single. This was Diaz's first blown save since his season debut, but he's hardly been dominant lately, allowing seven runs with a 5:6 K:BB over his last 3.2 innings. The closer has a 6.75 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 16:12 K:BB while converting seven of nine save chances through 14.2 innings on the year.

Rogers (1-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out two over one inning, taking the extra-inning loss versus the Dodgers on Monday.

Will Smith hit a two-run double off Rogers with one out in the 10th inning, and the Giants were unable to answer it in their half of the frame. Rogers remains inconsistent -- he's given up four runs (three earned) over six innings in May, but he also has a 12:1 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's at a 4.11 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB with three holds over 15.1 innings.

Feyereisen walked one and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Monday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Giants.

Daniel Hudson and Alex Vesia had already pitched earlier in the game, and Blake Treinen worked the ninth inning. Feyereisen got the call in the 10th after the Dodgers established a two-run lead, and he got the job done for his first save of 2024. The 31-year-old reliever struggled early in the season, allowing three runs in each of his first two outings, but this was his fifth straight scoreless appearance since he was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 1. Still, Feyereisen is unlikely to receive consistent high-leverage looks.

Liberatore allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one batter over 3.1 innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Monday.

Liberatore hurled two scoreless frames before the Angels tagged him for four runs in the third, with the final two tallies coming on a Kevin Pillar two-run homer. The southpaw departed in line for the loss, but St. Louis' offense eventually heated up to take him off the hook. This was Liberatore's second start of the season, and it came primarily as a result of Steven Matz landing on the injured list due to a back injury. Matz isn't expected back soon, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Cardinals put Liberatore back in the bullpen given his poor results Monday.

Beeks walked three batters in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Monday's 5-4 win over the Padres.

Beeks has earned a save in four of his last five appearances, including three saves in the last four days. The southpaw has permitted multiple baserunners in back-to-back games, but he continues to dance around trouble. Beeks has four saves, one hold, a 2.21 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 20.1 innings this season. He's also sporting a 14:11 K:BB, which casts serious doubt on how long he'll be able to find success in high-leverage situations. Justin Lawrence, who doesn't have a save in May, worked a two-inning assignment and picked up a hold Monday.

Alvarado picked up the save Monday against the Mets. He pitched a clean inning with no strikeouts.

Alvarado collected his first save since May 5 on Monday night, requiring just nine pitches to retire the Mets in the tenth inning. Outside of yielding five runs on Opening Day, the 28-year-old lefty has been a stalwart, firing a 1.06 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB over 17 innings since then. Alvarado will continue to split saves with the rest of the talented Phillies bullpen but should collect the bulk of opportunities.