MLB Player News

Mets reliever Rafael Montero threw 35 straight fastballs in Friday's loss to the Braves, and the Mets are looking for him to vary his pitch selection moving forward, the New York Post reports.

"What bothered me was [Montero] did not use his two-seam fastball, he did not use his changeup, which have both been huge pitches for him all the way along," pitching coach Dan Warthen said. "He has to learn to shake off and call his own pitches. He will mature. He will get better."

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud took the blame for the unvaried pitch selection.

"It all falls on me," d’Arnaud said. "I will take full responsibility for that."

"The pitcher has the ball in his hand and he makes the call," Warthen said. "I think [Friday] might be a great life lesson. [Montero] certainly could have been out of that inning easily anyway, but that is just a good learning lesson."

Montero gave up the go-ahead two-run single to Braves infielder Phil Gosselin in the eighth inning.

"I don’t care what the name on the back says, these are big league hitters," manager Terry Collins said Saturday. "You can’t throw all those fastballs right in a row without them all of a sudden getting engaged. They have got to see an offspeed pitch."

Diamondbacks pitchers Patrick Corbin and David Hernandez each threw 30 sliders off the mound Friday as they work back from Tommy John surgeries, reports AZCentral.com.

The pitch is considered the toughest on a pitcher's elbow, but Hernandez felt strong when throwing it on the mound.

"I'm excited to throw a pitch that I heavily depend on," Hernandez said. "The first time out, I liked where it was at. It had good break and good command."

Corbin left his command left something to be desired. Both are scheduled to face live hitters later this month and begin their rehab schedules, according to the report. Hernandez may be able to return by the middle of May.

"I'm excited to finally see that light at the end of the tunnel," Hernandez said. "Seeing a hitter in the box, that's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to it."

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson worked an efficient seven scoreless innings Saturday, recording nine strikeouts and allowing just two hits in Milwaukee's 6-0 win over the Pirates Saturday. 

Nelson, who also tallied two walks, did not allow a baserunner past second base in the game. It was his first win of the year and kept his ERA a perfect 0.00.

"I didn't question anything at all, I just stuck to the process," Nelson said to MLB.com. "I was still getting a lot of ground balls and stuff. After leaving my hand, I can't do anything about it. I was pretty happy with the work I've put in. Hopefully it'll stay right there. I'm just happy we got this one for the team, really."

He will look to keep rolling Friday when he faces the Pirates again.

Phillies pitcher Ken Giles is down a bit on his velocity so far this season, but he is more concerned about his control early in the season, reports Philly.com.

"For me, it feels like the same thing as last year, trying to tighten up everything," he said. "The slider is better than it was last year, and hopefully it will probably even get better as the season goes on. But I mean, [I'm] just trying to tighten up little things here and there."

Manager Ryne Sandberg thinks Giles is on track to figure things out before it's too late.

"In some regards, I think he's right where he was last year at this time in April when we didn't have him," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said this week. "He was working on his mechanics. He was working on tightening up his slider. He was working on fastball command. I think he's on the same page that he was last year at this time."

Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover struggled in 2014, going 1-10 with a 4.88 ERA, but he focused on turning things around this offseason and has seen early returns on his work, opening the season with wins in his first two appearances, MLB.com reports.

"Last year, unfortunately, I was not executing pitches as well as I am this year," Hoover said. "That is what I was working on all last season. That is what I worked on all offseason -- pretty much the basics."

Hoover recorded 10 straight losses last season, setting a franchise record for relievers.

"He had similar stuff, his velocity was the same, his curveball was the same, but the location of his mix of pitches, and particularly his fastball, was really a step backwards last year," manager Bryan Price said.

Hoover has yet to allow a run in 3 1/3 innings this season while striking out four and walking none.

Craig Kimbrel recorded his first save with the Padres in a 1-0 win over the Giants on Friday. The right-hander worked past a Joe Panik and forced Angel Pagen to a game-ending double play to preserve the lead and the win for San Diego.

Kimbrel, who was obtained Sunday in a blockbuster trade with Atlanta, has not allowed a run in his first three innings of work. He owns a 1.00 WHIP with a 3:1 K:BB ratio to start the season.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Friday that pitcher Ryan Webb, who was acquired by the Dodgers Thursday, won't be joining the team during its weekend series in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

No reason was given for Webb's absence. He has been added to the team's 40-man roster, but no indication has been made that he'll be placed on the 25-man roster. The uncertainty may spring from the team's need to promote a fifth starter to pitch Tuesday.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, on the disabled list with a left foot injury, played catch before Friday's loss to Arizona. The right-hander will continue to throw every other day, and is still two weeks away from throwing off a mound, according to the Associated Press.

Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin delivered three perfect innings and struck out one in his team's 4-3, 10-inning win over the Dodgers Friday.

"Chafin was the key tonight with the three innings," manager Chip Hale said after the game, per the Arizona Republic. "He was just great picking us up and getting us back in the dugout."

Chafin has now retired 16 straight batters since giving up a run on a hard-hit ball in the season debut.

"I don't know if I'd say locked in, but I'm definitely feeling a little bit more comfortable out there," Chafin said. "Not that I was uncomfortable then. I've found a bit of a rhythm now and seem to be throwing the ball well."

Chafin envisions himself as a starting pitcher long-term but is enjoying coming out of the bullpen.

"I like the excitement coming out of the bullpen," Chafin said. "It's a, 'Hey you, get hot, you're in' kind of thing. There's not as much thinking for it. You're able to just go out there and let it fly."

Reliever Rafael Montero allowed two runs on two hits and a walk and took the loss in the Mets' 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Braves. Montero struck out three batters in one inning of work. 

After finishing the seventh, Montero allowed a double, walk and two run single in the eighth to break open a tie game.