MLB Player News

Melancon saved Tuesday's 8-6 victory over the Royals, allowing one hit with one strikeout in the ninth inning.

Melancon worked around a leadoff single to convert his fifth straight save chance, albeit with two losses mixed in. The 37-year-old has now recorded a strikeout in three straight appearances after failing to do so in his previous five games.

Gsellman earned a save during Tuesday's 11-4 win over the Reds after giving up two runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk over three innings.

The right-hander entered during the seventh inning with the Cubs holding an eight-run lead, and he closed out the game to record an unconventional save. Gsellman has appeared in six games since Chicago selected his contract in early May, and he has a 5.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB over 12 innings.

Bard (2-2) earned the win in Tuesday's extra-inning victory over the Pirates after giving up one hit with three strikeouts and one walk over two scoreless innings.

The 36-year-old allowed a walk and a single during the ninth inning but preserved a 1-1 tie, and he returned for the 10th after Colorado took the lead and stranded the designated runner at second base. It marked the first time Bard has recorded more than three outs in an appearance this season, and he may be unavailable for Wednesday's series finale after throwing 35 pitches. He has a 3.31 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB across 16.1 innings and is 10-for-12 in save opportunities.

Reds manager David Bell said Sims (back) will begin a throwing program Tuesday or Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Since he's a reliever, Sims shouldn't require too extensive of a ramp-up period, but he'll still need to advance from playing catch to throwing off a mound to facing hitters before he's cleared to head out on what should be a brief minor-league rehab assignment. Before lower-back spasms forced him to the 15-day injured list May 12, Sims looked to be near the front of the pecking order for saves out of the Cincinnati bullpen, but it's unclear where he'll stand in the Reds' late-inning plans once he eventually returns. Alexis Diaz, Art Warren and Tony Santillan have all picked up one save apiece since Sims was placed on the IL.

Cubs manager David Ross said Tuesday that Rucker (toe) is progressing through a throwing program, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Rucker was placed on the 15-day injured list last Thursday after he was diagnosed with turf toe, but his ability to resume throwing a few days after being deactivated suggests that he'll be inactive for only a brief period of time. Prior to landing on the shelf, the 28-year-old righty worked 15 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen and submitted a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

Cabrera (2-1) walked one in a scoreless and hitless inning, earning the extra-inning win over the Blue Jays on Monday.

Cabrera handled the 10th inning with relative ease, and Paul Goldschmidt won it for the Cardinals with a walkoff grand slam. There's been some ups and downs for Cabrera in May, but he's posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across nine innings this month. Overall, the southpaw has a 2.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 13:6 K:BB and five holds in 17 appearances spanning 18 innings. Four of the five earned runs he's allowed have come on solo home runs -- he only surrendered three homers in 71 outings last season, so this is likely an anomaly.

Garcia (3-2) earned the win over Milwaukee on Monday, pitching a scoreless inning during which he gave up one hit and one walk.

Garcia was handed the ball in the 10th inning and found himself in immediate trouble, loading the bases with nobody out by giving up a single and a walk. He got out of the jam, however, thanks to a double play and a groundout. Garcia was then credited with the victory when the Padres walked off with a win in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander has three wins and eight holds on the campaign while posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB across 15.1 innings.

Davidson (1-1) took the loss Monday, coughing up five runs on four hits and four walks over 2.2 innings as Atlanta fell 7-3 to the Phillies. He struck out two.

The southpaw needed 76 pitches (45 strikes) to record only eight outs, as Davidson wasn't able to build on a strong outing in his return to the majors last Tuesday. He lines up for another start this weekend in a home series against the Marlins, but another shaky performance will likely force Atlanta to continue its hunt for a reliable fifth starter.

Kinley (1-1) allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Monday against the Pirates.

He wasn't hit hard, but an infield hit by Yoshi Tsutsugo was enough to push home a run and tag Kinley with his first loss of the season. That ended an eight-appearance scoreless stretch, during which Kinley struck out seven and allowed only three hits across 7.1 frames. Overall, he has maintained an excellent 1.10 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 16.1 innings.

Martinez did not factor in the decision against Milwaukee on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings.

Martinez wasn't efficient in the contest, needing 106 pitches -- 69 of which were strikes -- to get through five frames. However, he held the Brewers without a run in all but one inning and came up big in the fourth when he got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam without allowing any damage on the scoreboard. Martinez made the start due to an injury to Mike Clevinger, who went on the injured list Sunday with a triceps strain. Should San Diego opt to continue with a six-man rotation, Martinez will likely make his next start in St. Louis early next week.