Brandon Dickson has agreed to a contract with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Dickson will soon be released by the Cardinals so that he can head over to Japan. The 28-year-old right-hander posted a 4.91 ERA and 13/5 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings with St. Louis over the past two seasons.

Cardinals recalled RHP Brandon Dickson from Triple-A Memphis.

Dickson was last with the big club in May. In the midst of a decent minor-league campaign (3.55 ERA through 134 1/3 innings), the 27-year-old righty could serve as either a long-man or righty specialist out of the Cards' bullpen.

The Cardinals are expected to recall right-hander Brandon Dickson from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

No word yet on the corresponding roster move. Dickson made two appearances with the Cards in May, but has spent most of the season at the Triple-A level, posting a 3.55 ERA and 96/27 K/BB ratio in 134 1/3 innings over 22 starts.

The Cardinals will choose between Brandon Dickson and Joe Kelly to start Saturday against the Indians.

Whoever gets the call will be filling in for Jamie Garcia, who was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a shoulder strain. Dickson has the edge in major league experience, but Kelly has a solid 2.86 ERA and 45/21 K/BB ratio in 12 starts with Triple-A Louisville this year. Both can be avoided in most fantasy leagues, though.

Cardinals option RHP Brandon Dickson to Triple-A Memphis.

Dickson made just two appearances during his nearly two-week stay with the big club, allowing one unearned run over 2 1/3 innings while striking out one and walking none. He'll likely be back with the Cardinals at some point later this summer.

Cardinals optioned RHP Brandon Dickson to Triple-A Memphis.

Dickson surrendered seven hits and five earned runs in four Grapefruit League innings. The righty is doubtful to climb to the big leagues this year before September.

Brandon Dickson lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs Thursday versus the Brewers.

Dickson was given a big early lead, but he didn't last in the contest, and the win ended up going to Octavio Dotel in an 8-4 game. Dickson figures to spend most of September in middle relief unless someone gets hurt.

Cardinals recalled RHP Brandon Dickson from Triple-A Memphis.

The Cardinals will go for the sweep of the first-place Brewers on Thursday, but they'll roll the dice with Dickson rather than go with Chris Carpenter. Dickson, 26, allowed two hits over four scoreless innings in a brief stint with the big club in July. This will be his first major league start.

Brandon Dickson will recalled on September 1 and start on Thursday against the Brewers.

Dickson did a respectable job in mop-up duty during his week-long stay with the Cardinals earlier this season, allowing only two hits in four innings. Thursday will mark the right-hander's first major league start. Edwin Jackson and Jake Westbrook will start on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Cardinals will push back Chris Carpenter one day; he will start Friday against the Reds. "He's pitching very well and it's a good time of the year to give Carp that extra day," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "We've pushed him on the fifth day quite a bit. Cincinnati comes in Friday, that's no piece of cake either. More than anything else, it was decided that the extra day would benefit our starters and Chris is the first one that benefits." Dickson had a a 3.75 ERA in 157 1/3 innings with Triple-A Memphis this season.

Cardinals purchased the contract of RHP Brandon Dickson from Triple-A Memphis.

He'll replace the recently-released Ryan Franklin on the active roster. Dickson, 26, had a 3.86 ERA and 70/20 K/BB ratio over 100 1/3 innings with the Redbirds. While he has primarily been a starting pitcher in the minors, he will pitch in middle relief with the big club.

The Cardinals are expected to recall Brandon Dickson from Triple-A Memphis to take Ryan Franklin's spot on the roster.

Dickson impressed during spring training and has had a solid year at Memphis, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 70/20 K/BB ratio over 100 1/3 innings. He'll move into a long relief role.

Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan has been impressed with the early work of Brandon Dickson and Lance Lynn and would like to get both pitchers a start.

In Dickson's case, it would actually be another start, as he started one of the team's split-squad games Thursday and was "impressive," according to Duncan. Lynn also pitched very well in three relief innings in his spring debut. The problem is that there aren't many starts to go around and neither will be ready to pitch Sunday, when Kevin Thomas will fill in for Chris Carpenter. Dickson and Lynn are still lagging behind Kyle McClellan for the No. 5 job, but they have a shot to overtake him.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss considers Brandon Dickson a sleeper for the spot in the Cardinals rotation left vacated by the injured Adam Wainwright.

Dickson is a former undrafted free agent out of tiny Tusculum College in Tennessee. He was arguably Triple-A Memphis' best starter last season, posting a 3.23 ERA along with a 137/53 K/BB ratio over 167 innings. The 26-year-old also had a 2.06 GB/FB ratio, which will appeal to pitching coach Dave Duncan, but ultimately he's viewed as more of an organizational arm than a major leaguer. Reliever Kyle McClellan and prospect Lance Lynn have to be the odds-on favorites, assuming the Cards don't reverse course and seek help outside the organization.