MLB Player News

Rockies closer Adam Ottavino is expected to be on the disabled list longer than expected after an MRI revealed an elbow injury in addition to a triceps injury, the Denver Post reports.

"It's more than I thought it would be," Ottavino said. "Now I'm just waiting to find out more."

Ottavino was placed on the DL on Monday with right triceps inflammation. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed only six base runners (three hits) and notched three saves over 10 1/3 innings of relief.

"I didn't feel good pitching the last couple of times out," Ottavino said. "But I thought I felt all right."

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen faced live hitters for the first time in his recovery from foot surgery, and reported no issues, per MLB.com. He tossed 20 pitches and reached 96 mph in the session. He is expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga and pitch an inning on Friday, per the Orange County Register. He will need six to seven innings of relief before rejoining the big-league club.

Padres relievers Brandon Maurer, Joaquin Benoit and rookie Cory Mazzoni, who was making his major-league debut, combined to surrender six earned runs in two innings of work in San Diego's 9-4 loss to Houston Monday.

While Kevin Quackenbush was able to get out of the eighth inning without being charged with an earned run after Benoit let the first four batters of the inning reach base, the team now owns a 2.08 ERA, which ranks 20th in the majors.

"We need to get on a little bit of a bullpen roll," manager Bud Black said after the game, per MLB.com

Benoit (3-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks while failing to record an out.

"They're making some mistakes, leaving the ball up in the zone, out over the middle of the plate," catcher Derek Norris said. "We've just got to execute some pitches better in some situations."

Black believes the bullpen will pitch better moving forward.

"They'll come around. They're not pitching like they're going to pitch," he said. "When you see their numbers at the end of the year, they'll be there. When you see their numbers now as a group, there are two or three guys not hitting on all cylinders."

The Mets recalled pitcher Rafael Montero from Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday.

Montero will make his first start of the season Tuesday in Miami after opening the season in the bullpen and being send down to the minors to prepare for a starting role. He is expected to stick in the rotation, as the team will turn to a six-man rotation temporarily to help reduce the workload on Matt Harvey's arm.

Montero struggled in two Triple-A starts, giving up six runs (five earned) in 7 2/3 innings but racking up seven strikeouts against only one walk.

Rockies closer John Axford held on for a save in Monday night's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks. 

Axford entered the game in the ninth inning and gave up two hits, putting one batter on third. However, Axford was able to get through the inning without giving up a run and preserving the save. 

This is Axford's third save of the season. 

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson allowed seven runs, six earned, on six hits in just 2 1/3 innings of work Monday in Milwaukee's 9-6 loss to the Reds.

Nelson was ripped early and often, starting in the second inning when Jay Bruce ripped a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run shot. Then, with two on, pitcher Jason Marquis singled to left center to score a run. After Billy Hamilton reached safely, Nelson walked in a run with the bases loaded before getting out of the second.

Then in the third, Nelson allowed a run on a wild pitch before Marlon Byrd singled to center to bring home another. After another single, Nelson's night was finished.

Nelson, now 1-2, ballooned his ERA to 3.63. He will look to get back on track Sunday against the Cubs.

The Mets have optioned infielder Danny Muno to Triple-A Las Vegas after four games, the team announced Monday. Muno was moved back to the minors to make room from pitcher Rafael Montero.

Muno went 1 for 6 in four games for the Mets. 

Diamondbacks reliever David Hernandez allowed an infield hit in an extended spring game appearance this past Saturday, according to MLB.com. 

It was the first time Hernandez pitched in a game since he had Tommy John surgery a year ago. He threw 13 pitches in one inning. He's expected to pitch in another extended spring game on Tuesday and a total of five. 

Once his extended spring games are over he'll begin a minor-league rehab assignment. 

"I was excited just to feel a part of a team," Hernandez said. "It was just a weight off my shoulders. It felt good to be back out there. The command wasn't anywhere near where I wanted it to be."

The Rockies placed closer Adam Ottavino on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to right triceps inflammation, the team announced.

Ottavino has been brilliant over the first three weeks of the season, giving up just three hits and two walks in 10 scoreless innings while striking out 13 and recording three saves. Rockies reliever John Axford picked up a save Thursday and could be in line for more ninth-inning work in the wake of Ottavino's injury.

The team reinstated pitcher David Hale from the 15-day disabled list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Albuquerque. He opened the season on the disabled list due to an oblique injury.

To take Ottavino's spot on the active roster, the team recalled pitcher Jorge Rondon from Albuquerque.

As pitcher Matt Harvey continues to recover from the Tommy John surgery that sidelined him last year, the Mets will take a cautious approach to keeping their ace healthy, experimenting with six-man rotations in order to ensure Harvey keeps his start total right around 30 this season, per Newsday.

The report says the Mets' plan is to try and keep Harvey at 30 starts, with no more than 32 during the regular season. To that end, New York will temporarily switch to a six-man rotation and call up Rafael Montero to start Tuesday against the Marlins. 

Harvey is 4-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts and is averaging 6 2/3 innings, a pace that would put him at 200 innings for 30 starts or 213 innings for 32 by the end of the season -- more than the 180 to 190 the Mets had planned for the pitcher.