MLB Player News

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.

Rockies closer John Axford worked a nearly perfect inning on Monday in Colorado's 5-4 win over the Reds, earning his seventh save of the season.

Axford worked through the first two hitters with ease, needing just three pitches. After a walk to Todd Frazier, Axford finished things off by getting Jay Bruce to pop out to center field. Axford lowered his ERA to 0.82 in 11 innings of work. 

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson took a loss on Sunday, allowing two earned runs on five hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings while striking out four in his team's 2-1 defeat against the Braves.

Despite his wildness, Nelson (2-5) was able to string together five scoreless innings before the Braves took a 2-0 lead in the sixth. It's the second time this season he's walked five batters in a game and his second straight start with at least four walks.

Nelson owns a 3.67 ERA and 47:23 K:BB ratio in 56 1/3 innings. He's slated to face the Diamondbacks at home on Saturday.

Rockies relief pitcher John Axford worked a nearly perfect ninth inning on Saturday in Colorado's 5-3 win over the Giants, earning his sixth save of the season.

After allowing a leadoff single, Axford managed to get a fly out to center field, who then doubled off the baserunner trying to advanced to third. Axford then forced a groundout to end the game. Axford lowered his ERA to 0.90 in 10 innings of work.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop picked up his first save of the season in the 9-6 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday. Manager Joe Maddon decided to give regular closer Hector Rondon the night off, so Strop was tabbed to close out the game.

The right-hander tossed a perfect ninth inning, striking out one, to pick up the sixth save of his career. He now has four straight scoreless outings under his belt.

Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa (4-2) pitched well in Saturday's loss to the Cubs, all except for one inning. The young right-hander tossed six innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He struck out eight and walked two on the evening.

All of the damage to De La Rosa came in a four-run fifth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, De La Rosa hit Kris Bryant to force in a run, and then served up a three-run double to Anthony Rizzo. 

Fortunately for De La Rosa, his offense put up six runs on his behalf. Unfortunately for him, the bullpen wasn't able to hold the lead, as he picked up the no decision. He'll take a 4.27 ERA into his next start, scheduled for Friday in Milwaukee.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth inning on Saturday in Los Angeles' 2-0 win over the Padres, earning his third save of the season.

Jansen did not allow a baserunner and faced the minimum three batter in the inning. He recorded one strikeout and maintained his perfect 0.00 ERA through four innings of work this season.

Braves pitcher Shelby Miller allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings of work in Atlanta's 3-2 win over the Brewers on Saturday in 11 innings, but did not factor into a decision.

Miller had just two issues in the game, one coming in the first inning. After allowing a leadoff double to Carlos Gomez, Miller gave up a single to Ryan Braun to drive home a run. Then in the fourth, Miller put runners on first and second with two outs before allowing an RBI single to Martin Maldonado. It was Miller's shortest outing in his last five appearances. 

"Did I have my best stuff today? No," Miller said to 680 The Fan. "But my teammates did a good job hanging in there with me, making some good plays."

Miller, who remains 5-1, moved his ERA to 1.50 in 60 innings of work this season. He will look to get back on track Thursday against the Giants.

Phillies reliever Ken Giles has been declared fine after a mini-scare on the mound Friday night.

Giles cut his thumb during warmups, but it was treated and he remained in the game to pitch a scoreless and hitless eighth.

"There was blood coming all the way down," Ryne Sandberg told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It was on the ball and everything. He was just going to ignore it."

Giles has not managed an appearance without walking a batter or allowing a hit since May 12.