MLB Player News

Miller (elbow) threw from approximately 75-to-100 feet Monday, Martin Oppegaard of MLB.com reports.

The Diamondbacks are planning on having Miller extend his throwing distance off flat ground a little more this week before perhaps clearing the right-hander to resume mound work. Miller has been eased along slowly since being shut down in late July with right elbow inflammation and appears to have run out of time to build up to a starter's workload before the end of the regular season. If Miller endures no setbacks in his recovery and is able to return from the 60-day disabled list in September, he would likely be limited to a low-leverage role out of the bullpen.

Smith wasn't available to close Sunday or Monday due to a scheduled rest period, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Manager Bruce Bochy elected to keep his closer on the bench for two games after pitching in three consecutive contests. Smith is coming off of Tommy John surgery, so the cautious approach makes sense considering the Giants' bleak postseason hopes. Mark Melancon and Hunter Strickland picked up saves in his absence, but Smith should still be considered the top option for saves moving forward after posting a 1.84 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 44 innings.

Strop was lifted in the ninth inning of Monday's 7-4 win over the Mets after he gave up a hit and a walk while retiring just one batter. He recorded the hold while Jesse Chavez got the last two batters to snag the save.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon had a quick hook in this one, as he wasted no time in pulling Strop with two runners on in the ninth inning. The 33-year-old reliever looked puzzled by the decision, but Maddon has been known to mix and match with his bullpen, and the manager also likely wasn't too pleased with Strop's leadoff walk and general wildness (11 pitches, just five for strikes). Strop still figures to be the primary closer with Brandon Morrow (biceps) on the DL, but if Monday is any indication, he's not on a particularly long leash.

Chavez struck out both batters he faced to record the save in Monday's 7-4 win over the Mets.

It didn't look like Chavez would be in line for a save in this one, as the Cubs brought out Pedro Strop to begin the ninth inning. However, he put two runners on while retiring just one, and then Justin Wilson failed to retire Jay Bruce in a lefty-lefty matchup. That's when Joe Maddon turned to Chavez, and the 35-year-old struck out two hitters with the bases loaded to end the game. Chavez has excelled since coming over to Chicago, and this clutch performance should only boost his standing in the bullpen pecking order.

Chafin was credited with his 13th hold of the season after retiring the lone batter he faced in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Mariners.

Chafin was the first reliever summoned from the bullpen after starter Zack Greinke exited with two outs and two runners on in the top of the seventh inning. As per usual, Chafin aced the lefty-on-lefty matchup with Robinson Cano, inducing an inning-ending groundout in five pitches to end the Seattle threat. Chafin owns a 2.13 ERA and 9.4 K/9 for the season, but the impact of that production has been limited due to his low innings count, as he's frequently been called upon to face only one or two hitters over his 61 appearances.

Hader tossed two perfect innings of relief in Sunday's victory over the Pirates.

Hader entered the game probably an inning before manager Craig Counsell would have wanted to use him, but that did not stop him from shutting down the Pirates entirely. Hader struck out two batters Sunday and continues to pile up the punchouts, recording at least two in five straight appearances. He has not piled up saves lately, however, as Counsell has opted to use Hader for two innings in three straight appearances while letting fellow reliever Jeremy Jeffress handle the ninth-inning duties.

Dominguez pitched a scoreless ninth-inning to preserve a five-run lead Sunday against the Blue Jays, striking out two batters.

Dominguez seems to have at least temporarily lost his hold on the closer's job, as he hasn't recorded a save since Aug. 16 while Pat Neshek has recorded a pair in that time frame. His demotion was seemingly well-deserved, as he had posted a 12.71 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP over his last seven appearances prior to Sunday. His excellent strikeout and walk numbers remained strong throughout that stretch, however, as he struck out eight while walking just one, and it may take just a few more appearances like the one he had Sunday for him to regain his manager's trust and move back into a high-leverage role.

Neris pitched a scoreless seventh inning Sunday against the Blue Jays, striking out three while allowing just one hit.

Neris was deservedly sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in mid-June after an awful start to the season, but he's been dominant since his mid-August return. In 6.2 innings, he hasn't allowed a single run and has given up just three hits and a walk. He's been untouchable, striking out an incredible 62.5 percent of batters faced. Pat Neshek seems to be the one with the inside track on the closer job while Seranthony Dominguez struggles, but Neris has had success in the role in the past and is pitching like one of the best relievers in baseball in recent weeks, let alone the best on the team. It wouldn't be a stretch to see him back in the role in which he started the season at some point in September.

Boxberger picked up the save against the Mariners on Sunday, working around one walk to fire a scoreless ninth inning and preserve Arizona's 5-2 victory.

Boxberger got tagged for two earned his last time out but he was able to bounce back in this contest and lock down his 29th save of the season. He's had his fair share of hiccups, with six blown saves and an unspectacular 3.55 ERA through 45.2 innings, but Boxberger's hold on the role has made him a serviceable fantasy closer despite the speed bumps.

Smith did not get the call in the ninth inning of Sunday's 3-1 win over Texas.

Smith had pitched each of the last three days, so it may have just been a routine day of rest. However, he blew a save Friday and had to be relieved by Mark Melancon on Saturday. Melancon recorded a shutout inning and closed the game out Sunday as well. Smith looks to still be the top closing option for the Giants, but Melancon may be carving out some of the action.