MLB Player News

Brewers reliever Will Smith's appeal of an eight-game suspension has been pushed to next week and will be done in person, he said Wednesday, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. An MLB rep will come to Milwaukee to conduct the hearing.

Smith was handed an eight-game suspension last week after he was ejected from a May 21 outing against the Braves for having a foreign substance on his arm.

The Marlins will turn to pitcher Brad Hand to start Wednesday's game at Pittsburgh, the team announced.

Hand has appeared in 14 games this season and produced a 5.48 ERA over 23 innings of work.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson was hit in the jaw by a line drive during batting practice Monday, reports The Arizona Republic.

Despite suffering the injury, Hudson is available to pitch in Tuesday's game after not showing any concussion symptoms.

Mets manager Terry Collins said on Tuesday pitcher Vic Black is not far from rejoining the club, the team announced.

Black, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a shoulder and neck injury, threw one inning for Double-A Binghamton on Monday. He has made seven rehab appearances so far, but has not pitched in the majors since 2014 when he posted a 2-3 record with a 2.60 ERA in 34 2/3 innings of work.

Mets pitcher Rafael Montero was able to throw on Tuesday and hopes to throw off the mound on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com.

Montero is currently on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury and has not thrown since going on the disabled list on April 30. Montero is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings of work this season.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth inning on Monday in Cincinnati's 5-4 loss to the Rockies.

Chapman, in a non-save situation, allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach safely, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Then, Chapman allowed a sacrifice fly to Nolan Arenado to give Colorado the lead. Chapman would strikeout the final two batters to end the inning.

Chapman, now 2-3, moved his ERA to 1.86 in 19 1/3 innings of work.

Mets pitcher Vic Black tossed one scoreless inning on Monday for Double-A Binghamton as a part of his rehab assignment. Black, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a shoulder/neck injury, did not allow a hit or a walk with one strikeout in his appearance.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth inning in Los Angele's 6-3 win over the Braves on Monday, earning his fourth save of the season.

Jansen came on in relief of Chris Hatcher, who allowed a run on two hits before getting pulled in the inning. Jansen enduced three groundball outs, one of which scored a run (charged to Hatcher) to end the game. Jansen maintained his perect 0.00 ERA in five innings of work.

Padres pitcher Brandon Maurer has not allowed a run in his last 10 outings and pitching coach Darren Balsley said Maurer has found his role in the seventh inning, reports MLB.com.

"I think it's one of the most pivotal innings in baseball… especially when you have the lead," Balsley said.

Maurer has only surrendered four hits over his last 11 games and he has a 2.14 ERA on the season.

"He's doing a really good job," Padres manager Bud Black said. "With each successful outing he gains that confidence. This guy has good stuff; fastball, slider, changeup. I think he found early Major League niche in the bullpen with the Mariners. We've continued that role here. This guy has a good arm and pitches."

Pirates closer Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth inning in Pittsburgh's 4-2 win over the Marlins on Monday, earning his 11th save of the season.

Melancon needed just 13 pitches to get through the inning, forcing two groundball outs and one fly out. Melancon lowered his ERA to 3.00 in 21 innings of work. Melancon has not allowed a run in his last five appearances and just one in his last eight.