MLB Player News

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel recorded his 20th save of the season in Thursday's win over the Cardinals.

Kimbrel closed out the 11th inning of a 5-3 win with just 14 pitches. It was his 20th save in 21 attempts this season.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon was called upon to get one out in the ninth inning on Thursday, and Melancon obliged accordingly to pick up his 25th save of the season. The Pirates entered the bottom of the ninth against the Tigers with an 8-3 lead. 

But, Vance Worley gave up a run on three hits while recording two outs. So, with the possible tying run in the on-deck circle, Melancon was summoned from the bullpen, and was able to get Victor Martinez to ground-out, securing the 8-4 Pirates win.

Melancon is now working on a 23-game scoreless streak, as his ERA now sits at 1.66 on the year.

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen earned his 13th save of the season in Wednesday night's 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks. 

Jansen pitched the ninth inning and gave up a run on a David Peralta bomb. He was able to hold on for the save by getting out of the inning with two strikeouts. Jansen now has an ERA of 1.53. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman worked an easy, perfect ninth inning on Wednesday to record his 16th save of the season. Chapman struck out one and needed just 12 pitches to retire the side in order, preserving the 2-1 victory over the Twins. 

Chapman is a perfect 16-for-16 in save chances. He has not allowed a run in nine straight outings, and owns a miniscule 1.83 ERA overall this season. 

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa continued to a stretch of strong starts Tuesday against the Dodgers, striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. He is 2-0 with a 1.30 ERA in his last four starts.

De La Rosa's surge has coincided with the acquisition of catcher Welington Castillo. The duo grew up playing baseball together in the Dominican Republic. De La Rosa has a 3.58 ERA in five starts with Castillo behind the plate.

"He's good behind home plate," De La Rosa said, per The Arizona Republic. "He makes me a little bit more confident. For me it's really good."

Although, Castillo doesn't want to take any credit for De La Rosa's success.

"I think my job is to help him however I can," Castillo said. "He's got really good stuff. All I'm trying to do is get him on the same page and get him believing in his stuff."

The reports were positive following Reds starting pitcher Raisel Iglesias' rehab outing with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, manager Bryan Price said. Iglesias will likely make two more rehab starts before joining the rotation after the All-Star break.

Iglesias (oblique) threw three scoreless innings Tuesday. He allowed one hit and one walk, while striking out three. He threw 27 of 43 pitches for strikes.

"Very sharp," Price said Wednesday, per MLB.com. "I think he threw 21 pitches in the first inning, worked around an error and a walk. So I guess that was 22 pitches over the next two innings, so very, very efficient. He felt great, no issues at all with the oblique.

"He'll get up to probably that neighborhood of 65-plus pitches in his next outing, but I'd say it's more likely post All-Star break that he'll be ready to re-enter the rotation."

Diamondbacks reliever David Hernandez has had a rough go of it since returning from Tommy John surgery on June 7. In particular, the right-hander has really struggled over the his last three appearances, and the hard times continued on Tuesday.

Hernandez suffered his first loss of the season in the 6-4 defeat to the Dodgers. He entered the game in the top of the 10th inning with the scored 4-4. But he allowed three runs to score in the 10th, including a go-ahead home run to Howie Kendrick. 

Hernandez has now given up five runs over his last three outings, and owns a 7.50 ERA this season.

"For just so long, you grow accustomed to pitching and feeling fine, like nothing happened," Hernandez said, per MLB.com. "But I know it's going to take time. But up here there's no time, you've got to get the outs before obviously they score any runs." 

Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen recorded the final three outs of the game Tuesday to earn his 12th save of the season during the 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Jansen did allow one hit and a double, which led to one run, but he also struck out two batters. He now has a 1.08 ERA on the season and he has converted 12 of his 13 save chances this season.

Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa produced a solid outing Tuesday against the Dodgers, but he received a no-decision for his effort.

De La Rosa allowed two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out seven and walked one. He now has a 4.60 ERA. The Diamondbacks lost the game 6-4 in extra innings.

Tuesday's start broke his three-game streak of pitching at least seven innings as well as receiving a quality start.

Phillies reliever Ken Giles retired the first two batters he faced against Milwaukee on Tuesday, then didn't retired anyone else. 

Giles quickly got two outs in the eighth inning, then allowed three straight hits, followed by two straight walks. He gave up two runs, the first time in 12 outings he's allowed anyone to score. 

Giles suffered his second blown save of the year and was tagged with the loss, dropping to 3-2 on the year.