MLB Player News

Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson was excellent in his start against the Diamondbacks on Friday night. The young hurler held the D-Backs scoreless over seven innings. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out five in the 2-1 victory.

Nelson (8-9) did a good job of working around trouble all night as he kept Arizona off the scoresheet through his seven innings of work.

The strong outing lowered his season ERA to 3.97. Nelson is 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA over his last six starts.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon worked around a pair of hits to nail down his 31st save of the season in Friday's 7-5 win over the Nationals. Melancon has allowed just one earned run over his past 39 innings of work. 

The right-hander has now converted 29 straight save opportunities, which is a club record. His 31 saves are tops in the big leagues.

The Reds understand they have a hot commodity in closer Aroldis Chapman, and if another team wants to claim him the price will be high, according to ESPN.com.

The price for obtaining probably the best closer in baseball is apparently too high for comfort. One American League executive told ESPN that the Reds' price tag on Chapman was "exorbitant."

Chapman has a 1.74 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 23 walks in 41 1/3 innings this season. He has also recorded 19 saves.

Cardinals pitcher Matt Belisle is progressing from his forearm issue, but was unsure when he'll be able to return, reports MLB.com.

"We're just progressing each day to ensure that we don't take any steps back," Belisle said Wednesday. "I think we've pinpointed a little bit more the source of the issue, and I have a much better idea of how to attack the protocol to get me back pitching more quickly. In the interim, this extra bit of rest, although it's tough to do, is going to get me back quicker."

Belisle is dealing with a mild strain of a ligament near a joint in the forearm, but there are no structural issues.

"From what they're looking at, the medical team is confident that by biting the bullet a little bit longer on the rest, I'll be better off," Belisle said. "My whole mindset is just to take care of the minutes and the hours and the days and not look at anything past that. Everybody wants to know when [I'll be back], but it's better just to bracket it into days and weeks and make sure I'm seeing an improvement."

Reeling Rockies closer John Axford took another step back Wednesday. The result was his third defeat of the season.

Axford blew the game in the ninth after his team rallied with a four-run eighth to tie it. Two walks and a single were followed by a two-run hit by Elvis Andrus. After another walk, he was removed from the game.

The right-hander has allowed nine runs on 15 hits over his last nine innings covering 11 appearances. His ERA has skyrocketed to a season-worst 3.18.

It remains to be seen if his job is in jeopardy.

The Pirates recalled infielder Pedro Florimon from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday. Florimon, who was acquired in the offseason, will be making his season debut for the Pirates on Wednesday, as he is batting ninth and starting at shortstop against the Royals.

The light-hitting infielder was batting .254 with two homers and 18 RBI at Triple-A. 

He is taking the roster spot of Wilfredo Boscan who was optioned to Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen bounced back from a shaky outing to record his 17th save of the season and Los Angeles avoided a sweep at the hands of the Braves on Wednesday. 

The last time Jansen pitched, on July 18, he gave up a two-run, ninth-inning home run to Bryce Harper, in a non-save situation. 

Wednesday, Jansen allowed a runner with a walk, but struck out two and recorded a ground-ball out to close out Atlanta on 19 pitches. 

Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover was given a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Cubs, but he could not close the door.

Hoover gave up a two-run home run to Kyle Schwarber, which tied the game. The Reds would lose 5-4 in 13 innings. It was his second blown save of the season.

Reds pitcher Raisel Iglesias received a no-decision during Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Cubs.

Iglesias allowed two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. He struck out eight and walked four. He also gave up a solo home run to Chris Coghlan in the sixth inning.

Iglesias has allowed a total over 12 runs over his last 15 2/3 innings of work. His last win came May 13.

Reds pitcher Raisel Iglesias received a no-decision during Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Cubs.

Iglesias allowed two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. He struck out eight and walked four. He also gave up a solo home run to Chris Coghlan in the sixth inning.

Iglesias has allowed a total over 12 runs over his last 15 2/3 innings of work. His last win came May 13.