Brewers
The Brewers designated outfielder Caleb Gindl and released right-hander Hiram Burgos to clear space on the 40-man roster for infielders Hector Gomez, Matt Clark and Jason Rogers. Gomez joins the Brewers riding a .391 batting average over August, with 12 of his 25 hits going for extra bases. Burgos’ Brewers run has been hindered the last two years by his right shoulder, which ended his season last year on July 7 and required “clean-up” surgery this past June. Burgos went 1-3 with a 6.50 ERA in four starts with Nashville this year, and he never threw more than five innings in a start. Burgos was the Brewers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2012, with a 10-4 record and a 1.95 ERA at three classes.
Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals activated reliever Jason Motte from the 15-day disabled list from a lower back strain, and added four others to put their active roster at 31 players. The Cardinals also recalled left-handers Marco Gonzales, Nick Greenwood and Tyler Lyons, and catcher Tony Cruz. One will start in place of struggling Justin Masterson. Lyons and Gonzales were standouts in a doubleheader against the Cubs last week. Lyons had a career-high eight strikeouts, the most by a Cardinals reliever since 1978, in 4 innings of relief in Game 1. Gonzales worked six strong innings in his first career victory.
Cubs
Right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, ranked ninth among the club’s prospects by MLB.com, is among seven late additions to the Cubs’ roster. Vizcaino, acquired from the Braves in July 2012 for Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson, compiled a 3.51 ERA in 40 games at Class A Daytona, Double-A Tennessee and Iowa, giving up 16 earned runs on 38 hits and 18 walks over 41 innings. He pitched in the Major Leagues in 2011 with the Braves, and then he needed Tommy John surgery.
Pirates
Charlie Morton allowed two runs in four innings with one walk and six strikeouts in a rehab start with Double-A Alatoona. Afterward, the righty and Pirates staff concurred that he didn’t experience sufficient physical progress from his sports hernia to return to the rotation. It is possible the club would consider adding him to an expanded bullpen and use him in relief. Morton has no history in that role — his only relief appearance came as a rookie with the Braves in 2008.
Reds
Rookie center fielder Billy Hamilton is batting .267 with six home runs in 131 games. During Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Pirates, he tied a 105-year-old club record by stealing his 54th base of the season.
Compiled by Rachel Lister from wire reports.
