Adbert Alzolay pitched a perfect eighth inning in the Cubs’ 6-3 loss to the Marlins Sunday, as manager Craig Counsell indicated before the game that Alzolay wouldn’t be used in a save situation. After emerging as Chicago’s closer last season, Alzolay has blown four of seven save opportunities in the early going this year, prompting Counsell to tell reporters (including Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times) that “we’ve got to get Adbert some confidence.” For his part, Alzolay said mechanical problems were more to blame than any lack of self-belief. As to who will handle closer duties until Alzolay works his way back into the mix, Counsell said it’s “kind of like a day-to-day thing,” though Hector Neris and Mark Leiter Jr. seem like the most natural candidates. The Cardinals called up catcher Pedro Pages and right-hander Nick Robertson from Triple-A Memphis prior to Sunday’s game, while optioning righty Andre Pallante and outfielder Victor Scott II. Pallante has worked as a reliever over the last two seasons but will start in Triple-A as a way of getting more work in on his scuffling two-seam fastball, Cards manager Oliver Marmol told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Daniel Guerrero and other reporters. Scott will be getting his first taste of Triple-A baseball, as the Cardinals included him on their Opening Day roster due to some outfield injuries, and as a nod to the impressive 2023 numbers that got Scott some recognition on top-100 prospect lists. Unfortunately, Scott has looked overwhelmed by Major League pitching, with only an .085/.139/.136 slash line to show for his first 65 plate appearances in the Show. Pages’ presence will allow the Cards some flexibility in using fellow backstops Willson Contreras and Ivan Herrera in the same lineup at catcher and DH, as Contreras and Herrera are two of the few productive bats within the struggling St. Louis offense.