MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced the team's rotation for NLDS against the Dodgers. Adam Wainwright will pitch in the series opener, and he will be followed by Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller.

Michael Wacha will be pitching out of the bullpen for St. Louis.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel struck out one and worked his way around a walk and a hit in a scoreless ninth inning to close out a 4-2 victory over the Phillies. He has converted 46 of 50 save chances, with a 1.63 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP over 60 2/3 innings of relief.

Pirates pitcher John Axford was hung with a loss Saturday, allowing three earned runs on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning in his team's 10-6 walkoff defeat against the Reds.

Axford (2-4) loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th inning before being removed from the game, and the next pitcher in surrendered a walkoff grand slam to hand the Pirates a loss. Axford owns a 3.95 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 63:36 K:BB ratio in 54 2/3 innings.

The Brewers scratched Matt Garza Friday due to shoulder tightness. Jimmy Nelson will step in for a spot start against the Cubs at Miller Park, per MLB.com.

Nelson was moved to the bullpen earlier in the month after rosters expanded. He is 2-8 with a 4.57 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP over 65 innings of work.

Nationals right-hander Blake Treinen had been pitching well leading up Thursday - but he certainly took a pounding by the visiting Mets.

Treinen allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings and was saved from a loss only by a Washington comeback. He walked one and struck out one. The big blow was a two-run double by Daniel Murphy in the fifth inning.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is dealing with "general stiffness" in his arm, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Chapman was checked out by a trainer during Thursday's appearance, but managed to stay in the game. His velocity was down a bit, which is about 97 mph for Chapman. He was able to nail down the save despite the issue. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman had no trouble shutting down the visiting Brewers on Thursday in earning his 35th save of the season.

Chapman entered with a 5-3 lead and mowed down Milwaukee in order. He fanned Rickie Weeks and retired the next two batters on groundouts.

Marlins pitcher Brad Hand turned in a strong start Wednesday against the Phillies. 

Hand allowed one run on six hits over seven innings. He struck out two and walked three during the outing. Hand gave up his only run in his final inning of work. After giving up a leadoff walk, Hand managed to record outs against the next two batters. Pitcher Kyle Kendrick stepped to the plate and knocked an RBI double, bringing the run home. The Marlins would go on to score in the bottom of the inning, giving Hand a no-decision. 

The Nationals announced the team's rotation plans after Wednesday's game was rained out.

Blake Treinen will pitch the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Mets followed by Gio Gonzalez, who was scheduled to pitch Wednesday. On Friday, Doug Fister and Taylor Hill, who will be called up before the game, will pitch during the Nationals' second doubleheader in two days. Stephen Strasburg remains the probable starter for Saturday, while Jordan Zimmermann is scheduled to pitch the season finale Sunday after having his previously scheduled start pushed back due to a shoulder issue.

Cardinals second-year starter Shelby Miller took a step back after several steps forward Tuesday against the Cubs - and Mike Matheny took notice of the reasons why.

Miller had recently stopped overthrowing his four-seam fastball and began to rely more on curves and sinkers, according to Fox Sports. The result was six straight quality starts and a 1.62 ERA during that stretch. He yielded neither a home run nor a walk in three of those outings. But he tossed plenty of four-seamers against the Cubs despite his inability to keep it down. He gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings and displeased Matheny in the process.

"He was OK," Matheny said. "It was working at the beginning, striking out three of the first four guys he saw with fastballs at the top of the zone. Seemed like he had that late life. That's also a dangerous way to pitch, as we saw."

Miller, who fanned a season-high eight despite his short time on the mound, is 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA on the year.