MLB Player News

An MRI confirmed Alzolay is dealing with a right flexor strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Alzolay was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday and imaging has confirmed the initial diagnosis. He will be shut down for five days before being reevaluated. Most likely, the injury is going to require longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Hector Neris will continue to serve as the Cubs' primary ninth-inning option.

Smith (shoulder) is slated to be activated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith is done with his rehab as he comes back from right shoulder inflammation. He had been slated to return Tuesday, but the Mets have elected to hold him back one more day. Smith has posted a 2.70 ERA and 11:7 K:BB over 10 relief innings this season.

Lovelady was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Cubs needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for new acquisition Tyson Miller. Lovelady had allowed five runs over his last four appearances before being booted off the roster.

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.