MLB Player News

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman picked up his 28th save Wednesday, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning in his team's 7-5 win over the Cubs.

Chapman gave up a leadoff single but struck out the next two batters he faced. After issuing a walk, he was able to get Cubs rookie Javier Baez to fly out to end the game. Chapman owns a 2.49 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 85:19 K:BB ratio in 43 1/3 innings.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel earned his 39th save Wednesday, giving up a hit and a walk but pitching a scoreless ninth inning in his team's 3-2 win over the Mets.

Kimbrel had an atypical outing, throwing just 11 of his 21 pitches for strikes while failing to record a strikeout. He owns a 1.73 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 84:24 K:BB ratio in 52 innings.

Mets pitcher Vic Black is dealing with irritation caused by bone spurs growing on vertabrae in his neck, MLB.com reports.

"I've just got some stiffness that came up in Oakland and I'm dealing with it right now," Black said. "As it pertains with getting back in a game, I think it's day-to-day. I've got today off and we heated it up and got some medication going, and we'll hopefully knock it out real quick so it doesn't linger."

Black has been dealing with neck pain for the better part of a week and underwent an MRI Wednesday.

Mets pitcher Josh Edgin is suffering from bone spurs in his left elbow, The Record reports. Edgin is questionable to pitch Wednesday after missing Tuesday's game with the elbow issue.

"There’s more bone spurs stuff than it is any other structural damage," manager Terry Collins said. "He’s fine otherwise I wouldn’t be pitching him. To quiet it down as we always know and it’s ligaments running across that bone spur flares up, so we got to quiet it down."

The Mets are waiting for the diagnosis revealed by an MRI on right-hander Vic Black, who has been dealing with a neck problem. He had claimed it was no more than stiffness, but the MRI was taken to make sure there is no structural damage.

Black, who first felt irritation last week in Oakland, gave up a run for the first time in seven appearances Saturday. He has not pitched since.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon nailed down his second save in less than 24 hours Wednesday against St. Louis.

Melancon entered with a two-run lead in the ninth and promptly surrendered a single to Jhonny Peralta. But he retired the next three batters in order to secure his 24th save in 28 opportunities.

Right-hander Daniel Hudson has all but completed his rehab assignment and is slated to rejoin the Diamondbacks soon after his Friday outing for Triple-A Reno.

It remains to be seen if Hudson maintains his status as a starter, a role in which he showed promise before struggling mightily in 2012 and losing two seasons to multiple elbow surgeries.

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson took a loss Tuesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk in five innings while striking out seven in his team's 4-1 defeat against the Padres.

Nelson (2-5) served up a solo home run in the first inning before the Padres added three more runs in the third. Though he's pitched relatively well in the second half of the season, Nelson could be in danger of losing his rotation spot with Matt Garza on the verge of returning. Nelson owns a 4.10 ERA and 45:15 K:BB ratio in 52 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Cubs Monday.

Mets pitcher Josh Edgin was unavailable to pitch Tuesday due to a minor elbow issue, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

Edgin isn't expected to pitch Wednesday, but he should be available soon. Edgin owns a 1.40 ERA and 25:6 K:BB ratio in 25 2/3 innings.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon earned his 23rd save Tuesday, walking one batter and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning to finish off his team's 5-2 win over the Cardinals.

Melancon's save was his first in two weeks, as he blew his only save opportunity during that stretch. With three straight scoreless outings to his credit, the closer owns a 2.15 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 52:9 K:BB ratio in 54 1/3 innings.