MLB Player News

Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen bounced back from a dreadful outing to record his 40th save of the season Friday, in a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

Jansen, who tossed 32 pitches in his blown save two days ago, was much more efficient this time around. He retired the side in order on seven pitches for his 40th save in 45 chances.

Jansen has a 3.14 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 57 1/3 innings this season, while striking out 90 batters and walking just 16.  

Marlins pitcher Brad Hand will start Sunday against the Braves, after Henderson Alvarez was officially scratched with an oblique injury Friday.

Hand was removed from the rotation last week, but the injury will force him back in for at least one turn. At this point, it is not clear how much time Alvarez is expected to miss. 

Mets pitcher Vic Black is eligible to return from the DL Monday, and manager Terry Collins told ESPN.com Friday he expects to have him activated then.

Black, who has been out since Aug. 24 with a herniated disk in his neck, tossed a bullpen session without issue Thursday. He was feeling fine Friday, a good sign for his ability to return in the coming days, assuming he can avoid a setback.  

Mets reliever Josh Edgin's elbow is feeling better after a round of cortisone shots, and he will be available out of the bullpen beginning Saturday against the Reds, the New York Daily News reports Friday.

Edgin has not pitched since Aug. 23 as a result of his elbow injury, but joined the team for this weekend's series in Cincinnati after his cortisone injection. He has a 1.40 ERA in 25 2/3 innings on the season. 

Mets pitcher Vic Black completed a 15-pitch bullpen session without any reported issues on Thursday, according to his social media account. Black is working back from a neck injury and is expected to throw another bullpen session on Monday.

Mets pitcher Carlos Torres picked up a win Wednesday after allowing one earned run on a solo home run in 1 1/3 innings in his team's 4-3 victory over the Marlins.

Torres (6-5) pitched a scoreless inning to keep the game tied after seven innings before the Mets took a two-run lead in the top of the eighth. The reliever surrendered a home run to Giancarlo Stanton in the bottom of the eighth before coming into the game. Torres owns a 3.35 ERA and 88:32 K:BB ratio in 83 1/3 innings.

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller had everything going but good luck Wednesday afternoon in helping his team complete a sweep of Pittsburgh.

The right-hander hurled seven scoreless innings, giving up just five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Miller allowed two baserunners only in the second and seventh innings. Unfortunately, his teammates were in the process of getting shut out until the ninth.

Miller, who broke a slump in which he had yielded 14 runs in his previous 24 innings, has not notched a win since July 31. He will seek to rectify that when he pitches at Cincinnati on Monday.

Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel saved his 42nd game Wednesday against the Phillies. 

Kimbrel entered with a three-run lead, and was able to close the door. He had to work around a leadoff walk, but that wasn't an issue. After getting the first out on a lineout, Kimbrel induced a game-ending double play. He has a 1.64 ERA this season. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen earned his 39th save Tuesday, striking out three without giving up a hit or a walk in a scoreless ninth inning to finish off his team's 4-1 win over the Nationals.

Jansen saw the first batter of the ninth inning reach base on an error, but he calmly struck out the next three batters he faced to slam the door on the win. He owns a 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 90:15 K:BB ratio in 55 1/3 innings.

Rockies pitcher Matt Belisle took a loss Tuesday, giving up four earned runs on four hits while recording just one out in his team's 12-7 defeat against the Giants.

Belisle (4-7) came in to shut down a Giants rally in the seventh inning but ended up throwing fuel onto the fire, surrendering three doubles and a single before getting pulled. He owns a 5.37 ERA and 38:18 K:BB ratio in 58 2/3 innings.