MLB Player News

Pirates closer Mark Melancon picked up his second save Sunday, giving up one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to finish off his team's 5-2 win over the Brewers.

"I know … strange, huh?" Melancon said to MLB.com. "But there really isn't an adjustment to make because every time I go in there, I treat it as a save situation, no matter what the score is."

Melancon has had his issues over the first two weeks, but he was able to work quickly Sunday, picking up a save after throwing just eight pitches.

"I don't really pay a whole lot of attention to velocity," said Melancon. "It's more about location and results. Velocity isn't something I'm worried about. It's early in the season. Generally, in the past my speed has been slower early -- then it climbs throughout the year."

He owns a 5.06 ERA and 3:1 K:BB ratio in 5 1/3 innings.

Braves pitcher Shelby Miller earned a win Sunday, allowing two earned runs on five hits and three walks in six innings while striking out six in his team's 5-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

Miller (2-0) cruised through five innings before running into trouble with two outs in the sixth, when he put two men on base with a walk and a single before watching both score on a double.

"He's had our number," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said to MLB.com. "He's pretty good. I remember last year, we were on a nice little roll and he kind of started our tailspin when St. Louis came to town. ... He's a tough assignment and when you spot him five runs, guys like that, it's rare that you come back."

It was the first quality start of the season for Miller, who lasted just five innings in each of his first two starts but allowing just one run combined in those two games. He has posted a 1.69 ERA and 11:7 K:BB ratio in 16 innings heading into Saturday's matchup with the Phillies.

With Rockies pitcher John Axford's family medical emergency leave expiring on Sunday, the team has moved him to the restricted list, reports the Denver Post.

The move allows the Rockies to bring Axford back any day.

Axford has pitched in one inning so far this season.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Sunday that pitcher Jeurys Familia will remain the closer at least initially when Bobby Parnell and Vic Black return from the disabled list due to his recent success, ESPN New York reports.

Familia has racked up saves in each of his last five appearances while allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk and striking out six batters in 4 2/3 innings. He's posted a 2.70 ERA in 6 2/3 innings over the entire season while striking out nine and walking one.

Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa allowed four runs, three earned, on nine hits in Arizona's 4-1 loss to the Giants Saturday.

De La Rosa ran into trouble in the first, when he gave up a leadoff double to Nori Aoki, who was driven in by Joe Panik on a single. He gave up another run in the third inning on a Buster Posey RBI single, driving in Joe Panik. 

"He just left too many pitches up," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Once he started pitching down, he had some success. He battled. He gave up four runs -- tonight it wasn't good enough, but he's getting better each time out. It's improvement."

De La Rosa then gave up a two-run homer to Brandon Crawford in the fourth before settling down. De La Rosa, now 2-1, boasts a 6.00 ERA on the year. He will look to get back on track Saturday against the Pirates.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson may not have pitched back-to-back games yet this season, but he feels confident he can if needed, reports AZCentral.com.

"I think that's honestly helped me out to bounce back better mentally, and it's helped my arm, too," Hudson said. "Having gone through what I've gone through the last 2 1/2 years, I knew most of it was going to be mental. The thought of something bad happening was always going to be in the back of my mind. But that last outing, knowing I could get to that point and my arm not fall off, it kind of took a lot of pressure off me."

Hudson has thrown 4 2/3 scoreless innings so far this season with one strikeout and no walks.

"I don't think there's ever going to be a day anymore where they're not asking me how I'm feeling," Hudson said. "It's just kind of communicating with them whether or not I can go every night and luckily they've been able to not let me go back to back, but I feel like I could do it if needed because my arm has been bouncing back so well, knock on wood."

Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen was able to throw off the mound Saturday for the first time since foot surgery, reports the L.A. Times.

Jansen, who is currently on the 15-day DL with the foot injury, is pain free and still targeting a return to the big leagues some time in May.

"Really good day for me today," Jansen said. "Body's in shape, arm's in shape."

Jansen posted a 2-3 record with 44 saves and a 2.76 ERA in 65 1/3 innings of work in 2014.

Every so often super closer Craig Kimbrel proves he's mortal. It's rare, but it happens.

It happened Saturday in Chicago when he entered in a 6-6 tie and exited with a defeat, courtesy of two walks and two singles, the last of which was stroked by Starlin Castro and gave the Cubs a victory over the Padres.

Kimbrel had yet to allow a run this season.

With Rockies pitcher John Axford's family medical emergency leave set to expire Sunday, manager Walt Weiss indicated Axford could need the leave extended beyond Sunday, reports MLB.com.

"That's something we have to deal with through the Commissioner's office if we felt it [an extension] is needed," Weiss said. "I'm still not sure on that yet."

Axford is on the family medical emergency leave after his son was bit by a rattle snake during spring training.

Pirates pitcher Mark Melancon only needed one out to pick up his first save of the season during Friday's 6-3 win over the Brewers.

After Antonio Bastardo allowed two hits and a run in the ninth inning, Melancon relieved him to record last the out of the game.