MAY 23•SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Thursday's TransactionsBASEBALL Major League Baseball American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Optioned LHP Nick Vespi and C Blake Hunt to Norfolk (IL).
Alfonso Rivas - Outrighted to Triple-AThe Cardinals outrighted Rivas to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday after he cleared waivers.
ImpactWhile no longer on St. Louis' 40-man roster, Rivas will remain in the organization as depth. The 27-year-old is sporting just a .246/.364/.323 batting line with zero home runs this season at Memphis.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
Orioles place LHP John Means (forearm strain) on ILThe Baltimore Orioles placed left-hander John Means on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.Means, 31, exited Wednesd...
MAY 23•STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Masyn Winn - Homer, double in winWinn went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Orioles.
ImpactWinn's seventh-inning solo shot ended up being the difference in this game. The shortstop is on a roll, having hit safely in his last 11 games. During that span, he's gone 15-for-41 (.366) with two homers, seven RBI and two stolen bases. He's up to a .295/.348/.432 slash line over 157 plate appearances this season, and he's now hit leadoff against the last two southpaws the Cardinals have faced.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
John King - Collects first winKing (1-1) pitched two scoreless and hitless innings, walking one and striking out one while earning the win Wednesday over the Orioles.
ImpactKing provided much-needed length out of the bullpen following a rain delay that ended starter Kyle Gibson's day after four innings. King has kept runs off the board in six of his nine outings since he was recalled from Triple-A Memphis in early May. He's at a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB over 12.2 innings while adding two holds and a blown save across 11 appearances. King isn't a regular part of the Cardinals' high-leverage mix, so his fantasy appeal remains low.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
Travis Honeyman - Out with undisclosed injuryThe Florida Complex League Cardinals placed Honeyman on the 7-day injured list May 4 with an undisclosed injury.
ImpactHoneyman, a 22-year-old outfielder out of Boston College whom the Cardinals selected in the third round last year, would have likely been assigned to a full-season affiliate to start the season if he were healthy. The assignment to the FCL is likely to serve as a rehab assignment once he's cleared for play and then he could head to one of the Cardinals' Class A affiliates.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
Ryan Fernandez - Earns first career saveFernandez allowed a run on two hits over one inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Orioles. He did not walk or strike out a batter.
ImpactFernandez allowed a run on a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, but a baserunning blunder by the Orioles' Cedric Mullins took the tying run off base. The save was Fernandez's first of his career, and he got the opportunity because most of the Cardinals' high-leverage relievers pitched earlier Wednesday to finish off Tuesday's suspended game. The rookie right-hander has done alright in a low-leverage role with a 3.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB over 20.2 innings while adding one hold and an 0-1 record. He's struggled a little lately with four runs allowed over his last 3.1 innings.
MAY 23•ROTOWIRE
