MLB Player News

Rockies starter Chris Rusin got hammered by the Mets on Saturday. The young left-hander lasted just two-plus innings, as he allowed a whopping 11 runs on 12 hits, including an eight-run third inning, en route to the 14-9 loss. 

Rusin (4-6) saw his ERA jump from 3.99 to 4.97 with the disastrous outing. The Mets hit him early and often, and he just wasn't able to overcome the barrage of offense.

It was a step backwards for Rusin, who fired a complete-game shutout his last time out.

Phillies closer Ken Giles worked a perfect ninth inning to record his ninth save of the season in the 4-2 win over the Marlins on Saturday. The young right-hander struck out a batter and needed 17 pitches to retire the side in order. 

Giles has successfully converted all nine save opportunities since he became the primary closer for the Phillies at the end of July. He has allowed just one run over that stretch.

Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson took advantage of an offensive outburst by his teammates, as he picked up his 10th win of the season in the 10-3 victory over the Nationals on Friday. Nelson allowed two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Nelson (10-9, 3.60 ERA) allowed a run in the second to put the Brewers down 1-0. But they rallied back and took a 5-1 lead into the sixth. Nelson surrendered a solo home run to Bryce Harper, but that would be all the damage against him. Meanwhile, the Brewers would continue to tack on, en route to the blowout victory.

Nelson is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA over his last six starts.

Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa fared well in his outing against the Reds on Friday. The young right-hander went seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six, en route to the 6-3 victory.

De La Rosa (11-5, 4.32 ERA) blanked the Reds over the first five innings, while his offense put up five runs of support. He allowed a run in each of his final two frames, but overall he was sharp in this one.

He has been pitching very well lately, going 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA over his last seven starts.

Braves starter Shelby Miller lost his ninth straight decision, Tuesday against the Cubs. 

Miller hasn't won since May 17, a span of 17 winless starts. He allowed five runs, three earned. He has allowed three or more earned runs just three times over that span. 

Miller matched a season high with four walks. 

John Axford just got his closer job back for the Rockies. He took the first step in maintaining it on Thursday.

Axford blanked Washington in the ninth to secure a one-run victory and his 17th save of the season. He allowed a leadoff single to Bryce Harper and a two-out walk to Ryan Zimmerman, but fanned Michael Taylor to end it.

He wound up striking out the side.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has been bothered by a sore shoulder, which has kept him from pitching in each of the last two games, according to MLB.com. Chapman hasn't appeared since blowing a save against the Royals on Tuesday. 

The Reds did not present Chapman with a save opportunity on Wednesday or Thursday, but it does not appear as though he would have been available. His status for Friday's contest against the Diamondbacks is currently unknown. 

"The game [Chapman] had the other day against Kansas City, he never was able to get loose," Reds manager Bryan Price said after Thursday's loss to the D-Backs, per MLB.com. "So the last couple of days we just needed to give him treatment and rest. We're hoping with each day that goes by, that he's ready to return. We're not going to force anything, but with our bullpen limitations, we need guys to pitch deep into the games and starters to be aggressive in the zone. We need to get healthy in a hurry."

Marlins starter Brad Hand deserves a hand for his performance Thursday night against visiting Philadelphia.

Hand yielded just one run on four hits in six innings and took advantage of huge run support to even his record to 3-3. He walked two and fanned five.

The left-hander allowed a run on a Darin Ruf sacrifice fly in the first before blanking the Phillies the rest of the way. He faced two batters over the minimum after the run scored.

The Marlins have ridden a hot Hand since he rejoined the rotation. He has put together three strong starts in four outings.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon recorded his league-best 38th save of the season in his team's win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Melancon allowed one hit in the ninth inning, but went on to strike out the side in what was yet another impressive outing. He now has a 1.58 ERA in 57 innings this season.

Among the potential discoveries for the Phillies in their post-break surge is that they might have found their closer of the future. That closer is Ken Giles, who continued to perform well Wednesday night against Toronto.

Giles earned his eighth save, working around an error in the process of throwing a shutout ninth inning.

He has been sensational since July with two runs allowed in 19 2/3 innings. He has all eight saves since taking over the closer role on July 28.