MLB Player News

Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa struggled throughout his start Monday, which the Diamondbacks lost 9-3 to the Dodgers.

De La Rosa (4-3) allowed nine runs on 10 hits over five innings of work. The nine runs and 10 hits were both season highs for De La Rosa. He gave up home runs to Jimmy Rollins in the fourth inning and Andre Ethier in the fifth.

De La Rosa has allowed a total of 16 runs over his last two starts and his ERA now stands at 5.84. His next start is scheduled for Sunday at San Francisco.

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson went six scoreless innings during Monday night's 2-0 victory over the Pirates. 

Nelson allowed only four hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. The win improves his overall record to 3-6. This marked Nelson's first game where he didn't give up a run since opening day. 

"(Nelson) had a big-time finish to his sinker, and depth to the slider he threw," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said, via MLB.com. "He had so much late action (on that pitch), we were not able to do a whole lot with it."

Nelson now has a 4.05 ERA for the season. 

Nelson's next start is projected for Saturday against the Nationals. 

Padres pitcher Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect 11th inning to help the defeat the Braves 5-3 in extra innings Monday.

Kimbrel closed the door on his former team by getting Todd Cunningham to strike out. Kimbrel has converted 14 of his 15 save opportunities this season.

Despite only allowing one run on five hits over seven innings of work, Braves pitcher Shelby Miller received a no-decision during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Padres.

Miller was in line to pick up the win, but Jason Grilli blew the save in the ninth inning. Miller struck out six and walked one during the outing. His ERA now stands at 1.84.

Despite earning a quality start in three of his last four starts, Miller has not received a win in his last four starts. His next expected start is scheduled for Saturday at New York Mets.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman picked up his 11th save of the season in Monday night's 6-4 win over the Phillies. 

Chapman had some room to work with and needed it as he gave up an earned run and faced five batters. His walked two batters and struck out one. Chapman now has a 2.39 ERA this season. 

Marlins pitcher Brad Hand struggled from the opening batter and he never improved during Monday's 11-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

Hand allowed six runs on six hits over 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked a batter while picking up his second loss of the season. His ERA now stands at 5.71.

Hand (1-2) was coming off his first win of the season in his last start, but the six runs he surrendered Monday were a season high. His next expected start is scheduled for Saturday at home against the Rockies.

Pitching in his first game since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez tossed a scoreless inning during Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Mets.

"It feels amazing," he said, per The Arizona Republic. "It was a long journey, some ups and downs, along the way. But just happy to be a part of the team again."

Joe Maddon declared Saturday that his removal of closer Hector Rondon from a save situation did not signal his loss of that role.

Well, Rondon did not come out to pitch the ninth for the Cubs on Sunday - he had already thrown a scoreless eighth. Jason Motte earned the save instead.

Since Pedro Strop finished the game Saturday, it remains to be seen which one of those three is now the closer or if Maddon is opting for a by-committee approach.

Motte, who won in relief Saturday and peaked in 2012 with 42 saves for St. Louis, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth Sunday. He has not allowed a run in his last nine appearances.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon picked up his 18th save on Sunday, striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off his team's 3-0 shutout of the Braves.

Melancon endured a shaky start to the season but has allowed just one earned run since April 21. He still hasn't managed to up his strikeout rate, with Sunday's two strikeouts representing his first outing with multiple strikeouts since the end of April. Melancon owns a 2.28 ERA and 15:5 K:BB ratio in 27 2/3 innings.

The Diamondbacks will reinstate relief pitcher David Hernandez from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, the team announced after their 2-1 win over the Mets on Saturday.

Hernandez has been with the team recently, though he wasn't removed from the DL until now.

He hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013.