MLB Player News

Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen was put in the perfect position to close his team's game against the Cardinals out on Saturday.

Jansen entered the game with his team up 2-0 and after teammate Clayton Kershaw tossed eight innings of one-hit baseball. Jansen followed that performance by striking out a batter and relieving the side for his sixth save of the year.

In seven innings of relief this season, Jansen has 12 strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run.

Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin was dominant in his team's 10-5 win over the Marlins on Saturday.

Rusin tossed seven innings and only allowed two earned runs while striking out eight batters. 

In 19 2/3 innings this season, Rusin has allowed just three earned runs for an impressive 1.45 ERA.

"He knows how to pitch -- knows how to put sequences together, finish an at-bat, get a ground ball when he needs it, elevate the ball when he needs to do that," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, per MLB.com.

Rusin is scheduled to make his next start Thursday in a rematch with the Marlins in Miami.

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel earned his 13th save of the season in his team's 9-7 win over the Reds on Saturday.

Kimbrel struckout two batters, but he did allow a hit and a walk in the solo inning he pitched.

Kimbrel's ERA is down to 4.29 this season.

Joe Maddon has quelled any closer controversy brewing with the Cubs.

Maddon called on Pedro Strop in the ninth inning Saturday to shut down the Nationals after usual closer Hector Rondon walked Anthony Rendon upon entering. But he announced after the game that it was a one-time deal.

"For me, it was about winning the game today," he told the Chicago Tribune. "I am not ordaining anyone new."

Rondon has converted 10 of 13 save opportunities this season. But he has allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks in his last 7 1/3 innings. The free passes were issued in his last two appearances.

Strop, who fanned Clint Robinson and Ian Desmond to snag his second save, had been shaky as well before recording four consective scoreless outings.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon made things interesting on Friday, but got the job done to perserve the 10-8 victory over the Braves.

Melancon entered the game with the Pirates up 10-7 in the ninth. After getting the first batter out, he allowed a hit to A.J. Pierzynski. Todd Cunningham reached on an error, which allowed Pedro Ciriaco to drive in Pierzynski with a single. But Melancon then enduced a game-ending double-play to nail down his 17th save of the season.

Overall, Melancon allowed two hits and an unearned run in his inning of work.

Diamondbacks reliever David Hernandez is back with the team, though he has not yet been activated from the disabled list. Hernandez hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

But Hernandez could be activated during the team's current series with the Mets, or the following series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

"We've had him do everything so he can pitch important innings for us," manager Chip Hale said, per MLB.com. "I'm sure when he gets out there on the mound the adrenaline will take over and you'll see a little more excitement out of him hopefully."

The mystery as to why Reds rookie right-hander Raisel Iglesias lost his Friday start has been solved. He has been placed on the disabled list with an oblique strain, MLB.com has reported.

There had been no previous indication that Iglesias was hurt.

Iglesias has been struggling. He has allowed 10 runs in his last 11 2/3 innings to send his ERA up to 5.11.

The Brewers have announced that the suspension of left-handed reliever Will Smith has been reduced from eight games to six upon appeal.

The penalty was for his use of a foreign substance on the mound.

His suspension begins Friday night.

The Rockies have installed left-hander Chris Rusin as their Saturday starter against Miami and pushed Kyle Kendrick back to Sunday, the Denver Post has reported.

Rusin has earned the opportunity based on two strong outings, including one start on May 26. He has allowed just one run on eight hits in 11 2/3 innings.

The team has also named David Hale as its Monday starter against St. Louis, which shoves Jorge De La Rosa back to Tuesday.

The Reds announced that right-hander Jon Moscot will start Friday night against the Padres instead of right-hander Raisel Iglesias, per the team's official website. The club did not reveal a reason for Iglesias' absence on the mound on Friday. Iglesias is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA over 24 2/3 innings this season.

Moscot will be making his major-league debut after going 7-1 with a 3.15 ERA in nine starts (54 1/3 innings) with Triple-A Louisville.