MLB Player News

The Rays selected Woodford's contract from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Woodford will provide some bullpen protection after the Rays' relief corps was needed for 4.1 innings in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees. He's collected a 7.18 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 23 strikeouts across 26.1 innings in the big leagues this season between stops with the Brewers and Cubs.

The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Englert was knocked around for eight runs over 3.2 innings in a spot start Wednesday against the Yankees. He's being scrubbed from the active roster in order to make space for Jake Woodford, who will provide the Rays with a fresh bullpen arm.

The White Sox recalled Davis from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday.

Davis will rejoin the White Sox's bullpen to replace Luis Castillo, who landed on the injured list Thursday with a shoulder injury. Davis owns a 6.12 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through 25 innings in the minors this year but has been far more effective in the majors, posting a 3.52 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 30.2 frames.

The Brewers are expected to activate Wilson (back) from the 15-day injured list to have him start or pitch in bulk relief during Thursday's game in Philadelphia, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Wilson, who has been on the shelf since Aug. 31 due to a low back strain, looks to be healthy again after making a pair of rehab appearances with Triple-A Nashville. In his final outing for Nashville on Saturday, Wilson tossed 56 pitches and struck out five batters while allowing one unearned run across four innings. He should be able to provide Milwaukee with a decent amount of the length in the big club's final road game of the regular season.

The Pirates recalled Sisk from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

The Pirates needed a rested arm after they had a bullpen game Wednesday against the Cardinals. Sisk has pitched well in 39 relief outings with the big club, logging a 3.16 ERA and 48:23 K:BB over 42.2 innings.

The Pirates optioned Curtis to the Florida Complex League on Thursday.

Curtis logged 3.2 innings in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals, yielding a pair of runs. He required 71 pitches to cover his 3.2 frames, so Curtis is being replaced in the Pirates' bullpen by a fresh arm.

Hjerpe is expected to work as a piggyback pitcher behind starter Kyle Leahy in Thursday's game against the Pirates.

Since being called up from Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 6, Hjerpe has made all three of his appearances to date as part of a piggyback tandem with Leahy, whose workload the Cardinals are deliberately looking to keep in check as the season winds down. The rookie left-hander has had mixed results thus far, going 1-0 with a 12:6 K:BB while yielding six earned runs and giving up four hits across nine innings.

The Royals recalled Bivens from the Arizona Complex League on Thursday.

Bivens will give the Royals another bullpen option while Steven Cruz (paternity) is away. The 32-year-old Bivens has been touched up for 10 runs (eight earned) over five innings covering his four outings in the big leagues this season.

The Royals placed Cruz on the paternity leave list Thursday.

By rule, Cruz will miss the next 1-to-3 games while welcoming a new baby, so he should be back for Sunday's season finale, at minimum. Cruz has registered three of the past four saves for the Royals, which includes his eighth save of the season in Wednesday's win over the White Sox. While Cruz is away, the Royals could turn to Nate Pearson for save chances.

Kittredge recorded his 11th save of the season in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

The right-hander has remained in the late-inning mix even with Felix Bautista back in the fold, and Kittredge (two) and Rico Garcia (four) have split Baltimore's last six saves. Since the beginning of August, Kittredge has collected two wins, three holds and seven saves in 19 appearances with a 3.63 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB over 17.1 innings.