MLB Player News

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman wasn't as crisp as we have become accustomed to on Saturday against the Pirates, but he still managed to pick up his 22nd save of the season.

Despite allowing three hits, a walk and a run, Chapman struck out two batters and closed out his team's 4-3 win over Pittsburgh. He now has a 1.81 ERA in 44 2/3 innings this season.

Reds starting pitcher Raisel Iglesias enjoyed a pretty solid start against the Pirates on Saturday.

Iglesias limited his mistakes during the 6 2/3 innings he faced off against Pittsburgh, and it paid off as he picked up his second win of the season. He allowed two runs on four hits, two walks and a home run, but he did manage to strike out five batters.

With the win, Iglesias improved to 2-3 on the year with a 5.13 ERA.

A night after blowing the save, Padres closer Craig Kimbrel got right back out there and nailed down his 31st save of the year on Saturday. Kimbrel needed 13 pitches to retire the side in order in the ninth, protecting a 5-3 victory over the Marlins.

Kimbrel allowed a game-tying home run in the ninth inning on Friday, but was able to rebound nicely a day later. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen didn't have his best stuff on Saturday, but he managed to escape his team's matchup with the Angels with his 19th save of the season.

Jansen gave up a run on two hits and walked a batter during an uneasy ninth inning. He managed to strike out two batters in the process.

Jansen now has a 3.04 ERA in 26 2/3 innings this season.

Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings, Friday against Houston. 

De La Rosa took a no-decision, his first since June 30. He has allowed at least four earned runs and eight hits in three of his last five starts. 

De La Rosa walked one and struck out four.

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel blew his second save of the year, as he allowed a game-tying home run to the Marlins' Derek Dietrich in the ninth inning on Friday. The Padres would wind up winning the game 8-3 in 11 innings.

Kimbrel, who was the subject of trade rumors over the last several days, had converted 21 straight save opportunities before Friday's hiccup. 

Pirates closer Mark Melancon was far from perfect on Friday night, but he was able to escape with his 33rd save of the season in Friday's 5-4 win over the Reds.

Melancon gave up a hit to Brandon Phillips to lead off the ninth. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, Todd Frazier ripped a single to left, but Phillips was thrown out at the plate trying to score. Melancon would get the next batter to put the game to bed.

It was a shaky outing for Melancon, but he got the job done as he converted his 31st consecutive save opportunity.

The Rockies have made a change in the back-end of their bullpen. Manager Walt Weiss has removed John Axford from the closer's role, after he record his fifth blown save of the season, and fourth in a row on Thursday.

"I had a conversation with John a little earlier and I told him I was going to get him out of that ninth inning for a little bit and let him catch his breath," Weiss said Friday, per The Denver Post.

Axford, who once saved 46 games in a season, got off to a blazing start in 2015. He had converted each of his first 12 save opportunities and gave up just one earned run over his first 20 appearances.

But he has struggled lately, posting a whopping 12.15 ERA over his past nine outings.

"I'm not so bullheaded as to say that I want to pitch in the ninth inning and that's how it has to be," Axford said. "I have pitched in other innings and I've had success in other innings. A lot of my success has come in the ninth, but that's also where some of the pain comes.

"Stepping away definitely could be beneficial. It's worked before for me. It worked in 2012."

Weiss indicated he will likely go with a closer-by-committee approach, with the likes of Rafael Betancourt, Tommy Kahnle and Justin Miller as potential ninth-inning options. 

"We have a few different options down there, so it will probably come down match-ups and who is available," Weiss said. "So there will be a few different guys throwing at the end."

The Phillies and Rangers finally completed their blockbuster trade Friday.

The Rangers will receive starting pitcher Cole Hamels, reliever Jake Diekman and cash considerations in exchange for starting pitcher Matt Harrison, outfield prospect Nick Williams, catcher prospect Jorge Alfaro, starting pitcher prospect Jake Thompson, starting pitcher prospect Alec Asher and starting pitcher prospect Jerad Eickhoff.

The 31-year-old Hamels, who will make his Texas debut Saturday against the Giants, has compiled a 114-90 record, 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 10 seasons in the majors -- all with the Phillies. The three-time All-Star is under contract through 2018 on a seven-year, $159 million deal. He also has a $20 million option ($6 million buyout) for 2019.

The 28-year-old Diekman is in his fourth MLB season. He has compiled a 9-11 record, 3.84 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 191 career relief appearances for Philadelphia. He is striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings.

After the trade of Jim Johnson to the Dodgers, Arodys Vizcaino will serve as the Braves closer, according to MLB.com.

The 24-year-old right-hander has not recorded a save in his MLB career. He is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 10 appearances (nine innings) in 2015. He has eight strikeouts and four walks.

Vizcaino missed the start of the season while serving an 80-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.