MLB Player News

Todd posted an underwhelming 4.34 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 66 1/3 innings this year at Triple-A Memphis with the Cardinals. He’ll start 2013 back at Triple-A.

Hill was likely going to be designated for assignment by the White Sox with Everson Pereira returning on Thursday, so they opted to flip him for anything they could get at this point. The 30-year-old outfielder has hit .213/.284/.375 with four homers, eight RBI and seven stolen bases in 90 plate appearances with the White Sox this season. He’ll add insurance for the Phillies in the event that Adolis Garcia (shoulder) requires a trip to the injured list.

The 25-year-old outfielder had been shelved since the end of April due to a right pectoral strain. He made it through a short rehab assignment without any issues though and is ready to rejoin the White Sox. He returns to a .250/.310/.453 slash line with three homers and seven RBI through his first 71 plate appearances. If he regains regular playing time, he remains an intriguing option in deeper mixed leagues.

Soto made a pretty horrible baserunning mistake after doubling in the fifth, freezing on a single behind him as though he was worried about making an out at third. He was waved home anyway and would have been thrown out if Jimmy Crooks hadn’t missed the throw from Nathan Church in center. That run tied the game, and Soto’s solo shot two innings later ended the scoring for the day. He has 14 homers and 31 RBI on the season.

Scott gave up homers to Alec Burleson in the first and Lars Noobaar and Jimmy Crooks in the second to account for all of the runs. He was effective afterwards, but the Mets didn’t let him face Nootbaar, who had also doubled, for a third time with two on in the fifth. Scott had allowed just one homer in eight starts this season, but that wasn’t going to continue from a guy with a 27 percent groundball rate. He still projects to be pretty useful in mixed leagues, even if he’s more help in strikeouts and WHIP than in ERA going forward. He’ll face the Reds next week.

There was no drama today in a one-run game. Williams was fortunate to face the bottom of the order and retired Jimmy Crooks, pinch-hitter Bryan Torres and Nathan Church in order. Williams still has a 5.32 ERA because of a pair of four-run outings, but he’s struck out 36 in 22 innings and has taken just one blown save.

Dobbins struck out five and walked none, but he gave up nine hard-hit balls, including homers to Bo Bichette and Jared Young in the first. This leaves Dobbins with a 3.63 ERA in two relief appearances and two starts for the Cardinals. He’ll likely start again Wednesday against the Padres.

Crooks’ homer was 97.5 mph off the bat and went a projected 374 feet. He later hit a ball 103.9 mph and 402 feet off A.J. Minter, but that was just a flyout. Crooks did have one homer in 46 plate appearances as a major leaguer last season, so today’s was the second of his career. He’s started six of the Cardinals’ 12 games and gone 4-for-22 since being called up two weeks ago.

Gorman often comes out of games against lefties, but in an extreme show of low confidence, the Cardinals today had Bryan Torres hit for him against Devin Williams in the ninth. The Cardinals should have demoted Gorman instead of Thomas Saggese last week, but they kept him around and have watched him go hitless in four games since. He’s down to .194/.279/.318 for the year in 229 plate appearances for the year. Saggese apparently is hurt now — he hasn’t played for Triple-A Memphis since Saturday — but the Cardinals still could go to Blaze Jordan at third if they wanted.

Doesn’t sound like it’s great news for the Phillies on Adolis García’s shoulder injury. Hill was pushed out of a role with the White Sox by the promotion of Braden Montgomery and was a potential DFA candidate with Everson Pereira slated to come off the injured list soon, so it’s good work by the White Sox to get prospects for him.

He’ll fill in for Will Smith while Smith is dealing with neck inflammation. The 31-year-old veteran has zero fantasy upside and likely will only fill in for Dalton Rushing when he needs a breather during Smith’s absence.