MLB Player News

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel has not missed a beat since the surprising trade that sent him packing from Atlanta right before the start of the regular season.

He continued mowing them down Friday afternoon against the host Cubs. Kimbrel retired the first two batters before allowing a single to Dexter Fowler. With slugger Anthony Rizzo looming on deck, he enduced Jorge Soler to ground out to nail down his fourth save in his last four appearances.

Kimbrel has yet to surrender a run this year.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Friday that relief pitcher Vic Black may return within a week, according to ESPN.

Black has been sidelined since mid-March in spring training with a shoulder injury. He has allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two in two innings of relief in a minor-league rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie.

Rafael Montero is expected to return from Triple-A Las Vegas to make a spot start for the Mets on April 28 in Miami, per MLB.com. The reliever was sent down to Las Vegas and inserted into their rotation to stretch out as a starter.

Collins reiterated that Montero is not "one-and-done" after his start, but also added that he won't go with a six-man rotation moving forward. Montero allowed an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning against the Marlins on Thursday. He owns a 4.15 ERA in 4 1/3 innings.

The Mets purchased the contract of infielder Danny Muno from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to Friday's game against Miami. New York optioned reliever Rafael Montero down to the Las Vegas to clear a spot on the roster for Muno.

Muno, 26, batted .235 in six minor-league games this season. Montero allowed an unearned run in two-thirds of an inning against the Marlins on Thursday. He owns a 4.15 ERA in 4 1/3 innings.

Rockies closer Adam Ottavino earned a save during Wednesday night's 4-2 victory over the Giants. 

Ottavino entered the ninth inning and struck out two batters. He got Joe Panik to ground out. Ottavino only faced three batters and retired each one of them. He's yet to allow an earned run this season. 

This is Ottavino's second save of the season. 

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel earned his third save of the season in Wednesday night's 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks. 

Kimbrel struck out two batters and only allowed one hit. He has yet to give up an earned run this season. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen will test his foot by throwing off a mound for the first time on Saturday, according to MLB.com. Jansen started the year on the disabled list with a left foot injury, and is targeting a return by early-to-mid-May.

Struggling Pirates closer Mark Melancon has changed his release point and his velocity is down. But he has not complaining about any physical issues.

"No, I'm good," he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

His pitching was not good in his last outing. Entering in a non-save situation against Detroit, he gave up four hits and three earned runs in one inning. But coming off a season in which he saved 37 and compiled a 1.90 ERA with 71 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 71 innings, he will likely have a long leash.

Melancon claimed he was unaware that his release point had changed.

"Maybe it will give me more angle," he said. "It's news to me. I think it's just early. Obviously I'd like to have (velocity) at peak and keep it at peak. I don't have any worries of it not ever getting back. I've always felt like I increased (velocity) throughout the year. My routine in the offseason is always the same."

A franchise known for unveiling stud pitchers might be in the process of developing another one in right-hander Yimi Garcia.

Garcia has emerged as a late-game option for the Dodgers with closer Kenley Jansen sidelined. He has responded to the responsibility with a dominant stretch in which he has faced 21 batters in six innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts. Garcia boasts a 2-0 record and 1.50 ERA.

He has been particularly strong recently with eight strikeouts in his last four innings pitched.

Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino took the mound Tuesday against the Giants in the ninth inning to close out a 4-1 win for his first save this season and second career save.

Ottavino will get plenty more chances to add to his save total, as manager Walt Weiss as named him the team's new closer after removing LaTroy Hawkins from the role Monday.

"I'm not against closer by committee or anything, but I think Otto deserves a shot at closing games," Weiss said Tuesday, per MLB.com. "We've got some guys that can do it, but Otto will do well in that role."

Although this is Ottavino's first run as an MLB closer, he is ready for the pressure that comes with closing out games.

“Of course I feel ready,” Ottavino said, per The Denver Post. “Before last year, I hadn't really pitched that much with the game on the line, but I'm more used to it now. I also think I've made some adjustments vs. lefties, and I did pretty good against them in the spring. I feel more confident right now than I ever have on the mound.”