MLB Player News

Braves pitcher Shelby Miller lost his fifth straight decision, Sunday against the Cubs.

Miller dropped to 5-6. He hasn't won since May 17.

Miller allowed three runs, one earned in six innings. He walked four and struck out eight. The four walks were the most he's allowed since June 2.  

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman became the fastest player to record 500 strikeouts in Major League Baseball history on Sunday after recording a five-strikeout outing against the Indians.

Chapman struck out five of the six batters he faced on Sunday in what was just his latest dominant performance. 

The six-year veteran needed just 292 innings to exceed the 500 career strikeout mark, besting the previous record by 13 innings.

Chapman now has an impressive 1.60 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 21 walks in 39 1/3 innings of relief this season.

The Tigers are among the teams that have inquired about Rockies closer John Axford, according to Fox Sports.

Axford, who is under team control through 2016, is 1-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 16 saves in 2015.

Mets pitcher Josh Edgin has begun throwing this week, reports the Daily News. Edgin has not pitched this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel nailed down the save for the second night in a row on Saturday.

Kimbrel struck out the side, picking up his 25th save of the year in the 5-4 win over the Rockies. 

Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson did not have his finest outing on Saturday, but he was able to come away with his seventh win of the season. Nelson gave up four runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out eight in the 8-5 win over the Pirates.

Nelson (7-9) fell behind early as he gave up three runs in the first inning. But the Brewers rallied back to give the 26-year-old a lead that he was able to hold on to. He even helped his own cause, chipping in a two-run single in the second to give cut the Pirates' lead to 3-2. 

Nelson's ERA went up a tick to 4.29. He is 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA over his last five starts.

If the Phillies trade closer Jonathan Papelbon before the looming trade deadline they might have the luxury of replacing him from within. Reliever Ken Giles is putting his name out there as the guy to step into the closer role, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Giles said the closer role is a big task, but one that he is ready for might the opportunity present itself.

"Everyone knows who you are when you come into that ninth inning because you're the one that ends the game," Giles said Saturday. "You're the one that brings the fire. You have the starters that start the fire and you just finish it. You put that extra little fuel on it to finish the game off."

Giles said he's taking it "one day at a time," given that Papelbon could just as likely stay with the team.

"But do I feel like I could do it? Absolutely," Giles said.

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel worked a perfect ninth inning to record his 24th save of the season in Friday's 4-2 win over the Rockies. Kimbrel struck out a batter and lowered his ERA to 3.15.

Despite that inflated ERA, Kimbrel remains a perfect 24-for-24 in save chances this year.

Five healthy National League pitchers didn't get into Tuesday's All Star Game:

A.J. Burnett, Pirates; Carlos Martinez, Cardinals; Shelby Miller, Braves; Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies; Michael Wacha, Cardinals

Every National League position player appeared in the game. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman became the 14th pitcher in All Star Game history to strike out the side in order on Tuesday. 

Chapman pitched an impressive ninth inning in his home ballpark. Chapman fanned the side on 14 pitches. Twelve of the 14 pitches were clocked at over 100 mph, topping out at 103. 

Chapman struck out more batters than any Reds All Star since Mario Soto in 1982.