MLB Player News

Mark Melancon is the Pirates' closer this season, but he's still waiting for something to close. 

The Pirates are 2-4 to start the season, and the two wins have been by four and eight runs, respectively. That's limited Melancon's opportunities. 

He's appeared twice, entering a tie game on the road to pitch a scoreless tenth inning, and pitching a scoreless ninth to finish off one of the lopside Pirate wins. 

Melancon has allowed one hit and no walks in two innings, while striking out two. 

Padres reliever Joaquin Benoit spent most of spring training preparing to be the team's closer. The plan changed when, right before Opening Day, the Padres traded for Craig Kimbrel. 

Benoit's role has changed to set-up man. He's pitched in four games so far this season, all in the eighth inning. 

After blowing a lead in his first appearance, Benoit has settled down. He's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and three strikeouts in four innings. 

Mets relievers Bobby Parnell and Vic Black will begin rehab assignments with high Class A Port St. Lucie in the next day or two, the Star-Ledger reports.

It was reported Sunday that Black was expected to begin his rehab at a higher level but will instead join Parnell in Port St. Lucie. Black is recovering from a shoulder injury, while Parnell is still on the road back from Tommy John surgery.

"Their roles, and the jobs they're going to have to do to come up here, they're going to have to pitch two or three nights in a row," manager Terry Collins said to MLB.com. "We've got to make sure those guys can get through those kinds of outings before they're ready to pitch up here."

The Dodgers have outrighted pitcher Ryan Webb to Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to MLB Transactions.

Webb made seven appearances in spring training for Baltimore, posting a 6.75 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Padres pitcher Craig Kimbrel was credited with a save in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Giants. 

Kimbrel pitched a flawless ninth inning, He got Matt Duffy to ground out, Angel Pagan to strike out and Nori Aoki to fly out to center. This is Kimbrel's second save of the season. 

Kimbrel has yet to give up a run in four appearances this year. 

The Rockies announced Sunday that they have moved reliever John Axford off their active roster as he deals with a family issue, replacing him with pitcher Scott Oberg, per the Denver Post. 

Axford's 2-year-old son was bitten by a rattlesnake in Arizona during spring training, and complications have caused the boy to need to be flown to a specialist in Colorado. Axford, who picked up a save Thursday, will miss a minimun of three games and a maximum of seven games. 

To make room for Oberg, the Rockies moved Charlie Culberson to the 60-day disabled list. 

Mets manager Terry Collins said Sunday that relief pitchers Bobby Parnell and Vic Black will begin their respective rehab assignments soon, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

Parnell, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, will likely be headed to high Class A Port St. Lucie, while Black is expected to begin his rehab at a higher level as he returns from a shoulder injury.

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.