MLB Player News

Walt Weiss does not sound like a manager ready to pull the plug on the closer status of Rockies right-hander John Axford.

Axford has yielded five earned runs on seven hits and six walks in his last six appearances. He had been lights-out before his slump and is still 16-for-19 in save opportunities.

"Some of those games where he did give up some runs, he didn't get a lot of breaks," Weiss told MLB.com. "Some groundballs had eyes. When he did walk a guy, it cost him. He's throwing the ball like he has all year."

The Giants have shown interest in trading for Reds flamethrowing closer Aroldis Chapman, according to Fox Sports, which is further reporting that no offers have been exchanged.

Chapman has converted all but one save in 21 opportunities this season and is averaging a ridiculous 1.8 strikeouts per inning.

San Francisco has a reliable closer in Santiago Casilla.

Some wondered if Padres closer Craig Kimbrel had lost his mojo when he skidded in late April and May.

They are doubting him no longer.

Kimbrel remained on a roll Sunday by retiring the Marlins in order in the ninth to preserve a victory. He struck out none, but still earned his 29th save.

He has not allowed a run in 12 of his last 13 appearances and has shrunk his ERA to 2.73, its lowest point since April 26.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon picked up his major league-leading 32nd save of the season on Sunday against the Nationals.

Melancon needed just eight pitches to close out the ninth inning in the 3-1 victory. He now has a dominant 1.37 ERA on the year.

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel recorded yet another save in the 3-1 win over the Marlins on Saturday. Kimbrel struck out a pair of batters and made quick work of the Marlins, needing just 13 pitches to retire the side in order to claim his 28th save of the year.

Rockies starter Chris Rusin was hit hard yet again, allowing all five runs in his team's 5-2 loss to the Reds on Saturday. 

For the third time in his last 10 starts, Rusin allowed at least 10 hits, as the Reds jumped on him for five runs in four innings. Rusin now falls to 3-4 on the season. 

Rubby De La Rosa was among the worst starters in baseball through early June. He has since transformed himself into one of the better ones.

The latest and best example was Saturday night against visiting Milwaukee. De La Rosa emerged with his finest performance of the season for the Diamondbacks, throwing eight shutout innings. He allowed just two hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

De La Rosa survived three errors that tested him early. He yielded just one hit following the first inning and earned a standing ovation from the home crowd after the eighth.

He has lowered his ERA to 4.52 in surrendering just 15 runs over his last 51 1/3 innings pitched.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman appeared to have a night off, with his team holding a 5-0 lead heading into the ninth inning, but reliever Jumbo Diaz allowed two runs, forcing Chapman to make a quick entrance and a quicker save, retiring one batter to close out Cincinnati's 5-2 win over the Rockies. 

Three days after taking a loss against the Cubs, Chapman only needed three pitches to get the job done Saturday, getting one ground-ball out to finish the contest. Chapman has now reached at least 20 saves for the fourth straight season. 

Shelby Miller continued to be thwarted by a lack of run support, as the Braves starter pitched well put took the loss in a 1-0 pitcher's duel against the Cardinals on Saturday. 

Miller went 7 1/3 innings, and allowed just two hits while striking out four hitters, but lost his fifth straight decision to drop to 5-7 despite holding an ERA of 2.27.

According to FOX Sports, it's the ninth time this year Miller has not received a single run of support during one of his starts. 

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel racked up another save on Friday, closing out the 3-1 win over the Marlins. Kimbrel worked a scoreless ninth inning to record his 27th save of the season.

Kimbrel has converted 18 consecutive save chances and has been scored upon once in his past 11 appearances.