MLB Player News

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will be activated from the disabled list within the next two days. 

Jansen started the season on the 15-day disabled list after offseason foot surgery. 

Manager Don Mattingly said that, ideally, Jansen would return to the team Saturday, but, depending on what happens in Thursday's game, the Dodgers may need to add him to the bullpen a day earlier, per SB Nation. 

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop won his first game of the season with 1 1/3 perfect innings on Thursday. 

Strop entered the tie game with two outs in the seventh and the go-ahead run on second base. He ended the inning with a lineout, then pitched a one-two-three eighth with two strikeouts. 

Strop moved to 1-2 on the year with a 3.38 ERA.

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson allowed eight hits in Wednesday night's 4-2 loss to the White Sox. 

Nelson allowed four earned runs and walked two while striking out three. Nelson lasted 6 2/3 innings in the game. This is the second consecutive game where Nelson has allowed four earned runs. 

Nelson's next start is projected for May 19 against the Tigers. 

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel delivered his 10th save Wednesday despite allowing one earned run on two hits in one inning while striking out two in his team's 4-2 victory over the Mariners.

Kimbrel opened the inning by giving up a single and was able to record two outs before the runner moved up to second base on fielder's indifference. A double brought the runner around to score, making it the third time in his last four starts that Kimbrel has allowed at least one run, but he was able to strike out the following batter to end the game.

Kimbrel owns a 5.93 ERA and 19:5 K:BB ratio in 13 2/3 innings.

Don Mattingly has declared that he will use Dodgers right-hander Kenley Jansen in one or two lower-pressure appearances before putting him back into save situations.

"He's our closer. There's no question about that," he told True Blue LA. "We don't want him in a bases-loaded, no-room-for-error situation. We'll try to give him an inning somewhat comfortable, not a total pressure situation."

Jansen is set to be activated off the disabled list Saturday after recovering from a foot injury. He racked up 97 saves in 113 chances over the last three season.

Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa (4-2) gave up four runs on eight hits in seven innings Tuesday but received ample run support to take the win against the Nationals.

De La Rosa was touched for a two-run homer from Bryce Harper.

De La Rosa and the D-Backs lead 8-2 after four innings and cruised to a 14-6 win.

De La Rosa's next start is set for Monday in Miami.

Closer Aroldis Chapman (2-2) came on in a tie game Tuesday to hold the Braves scoreless in the top of the ninth inning and took the win when the Reds rallied to win it in the bottom half.

Chapman took the loss in both of the Reds' two previous games and had not allowed a run all season until the recent hiccup.

Mets pitcher Vic Black (shoulder, neck) is slated to begin a Triple-A rehab assignment Sunday, The Star-Ledger reports.

Black is working his way back from a herniated disk in his neck and has yet to make his regular-season debut. He went 2-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings last season.

Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart took full responsibility for what decided Monday's game against the Braves. Closer Aroldis Chapman's pitch went through Barnhart's glove, allowing a go-ahead run to score in the ninth inning.

"I've got to catch the ball, it's that simple," Barnhart said to MLB.com. "That doesn't matter -- 110, 120 [mph], it doesn't matter. That ball has to be caught. There's no excuse."

Manager Bryan Price didn't solely blame Barnahart for the error.

"It was just a pitch that got away," Price said. "It's hard when you're throwing that hard and the ball cuts instead of sinks. It's a tough position to play with a guy that throws like Chappy does. It's a lot of velocity and a lot of action."

Dodgers pitcher Yimi Garcia failed to convert a save when he allowed a two-run home run to Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich during Monday's 5-3 win.

Garcia entered with a one-run lead in the ninth, but he surrendered two runs on two walks and two hits. Garcia was pulled after recording two outs in the inning. It was his second blown save this season.

"He was due for one of those outings," manager Don Mattingly said after the game, per the Orange County Register.

Despite blowing the lead, the Dodgers were able to win the game on a three-run home run from Scott Van Slyke in the bottom of the ninth inning.