MLB Player News

Phillies pitcher Ken Giles is down a bit on his velocity so far this season, but he is more concerned about his control early in the season, reports Philly.com.

"For me, it feels like the same thing as last year, trying to tighten up everything," he said. "The slider is better than it was last year, and hopefully it will probably even get better as the season goes on. But I mean, [I'm] just trying to tighten up little things here and there."

Manager Ryne Sandberg thinks Giles is on track to figure things out before it's too late.

"In some regards, I think he's right where he was last year at this time in April when we didn't have him," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said this week. "He was working on his mechanics. He was working on tightening up his slider. He was working on fastball command. I think he's on the same page that he was last year at this time."

Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover struggled in 2014, going 1-10 with a 4.88 ERA, but he focused on turning things around this offseason and has seen early returns on his work, opening the season with wins in his first two appearances, MLB.com reports.

"Last year, unfortunately, I was not executing pitches as well as I am this year," Hoover said. "That is what I was working on all last season. That is what I worked on all offseason -- pretty much the basics."

Hoover recorded 10 straight losses last season, setting a franchise record for relievers.

"He had similar stuff, his velocity was the same, his curveball was the same, but the location of his mix of pitches, and particularly his fastball, was really a step backwards last year," manager Bryan Price said.

Hoover has yet to allow a run in 3 1/3 innings this season while striking out four and walking none.

Craig Kimbrel recorded his first save with the Padres in a 1-0 win over the Giants on Friday. The right-hander worked past a Joe Panik and forced Angel Pagen to a game-ending double play to preserve the lead and the win for San Diego.

Kimbrel, who was obtained Sunday in a blockbuster trade with Atlanta, has not allowed a run in his first three innings of work. He owns a 1.00 WHIP with a 3:1 K:BB ratio to start the season.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Friday that pitcher Ryan Webb, who was acquired by the Dodgers Thursday, won't be joining the team during its weekend series in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

No reason was given for Webb's absence. He has been added to the team's 40-man roster, but no indication has been made that he'll be placed on the 25-man roster. The uncertainty may spring from the team's need to promote a fifth starter to pitch Tuesday.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, on the disabled list with a left foot injury, played catch before Friday's loss to Arizona. The right-hander will continue to throw every other day, and is still two weeks away from throwing off a mound, according to the Associated Press.

Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin delivered three perfect innings and struck out one in his team's 4-3, 10-inning win over the Dodgers Friday.

"Chafin was the key tonight with the three innings," manager Chip Hale said after the game, per the Arizona Republic. "He was just great picking us up and getting us back in the dugout."

Chafin has now retired 16 straight batters since giving up a run on a hard-hit ball in the season debut.

"I don't know if I'd say locked in, but I'm definitely feeling a little bit more comfortable out there," Chafin said. "Not that I was uncomfortable then. I've found a bit of a rhythm now and seem to be throwing the ball well."

Chafin envisions himself as a starting pitcher long-term but is enjoying coming out of the bullpen.

"I like the excitement coming out of the bullpen," Chafin said. "It's a, 'Hey you, get hot, you're in' kind of thing. There's not as much thinking for it. You're able to just go out there and let it fly."

Reliever Rafael Montero allowed two runs on two hits and a walk and took the loss in the Mets' 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Braves. Montero struck out three batters in one inning of work. 

After finishing the seventh, Montero allowed a double, walk and two run single in the eighth to break open a tie game. 

The Reds rallied in the eighth inning for a 5-4 win over the Cardinals on Friday. J.J. Hoover entered the game with the go-ahead run on second in the seventh and ended the inning with a strikeout. He then added a scoreless eighth to earn the win.

Hoover struck out three of the five batters he faced and allowed one hit. 

Aroldis Chapman struck out two in the ninth to earn his second save of the season. 

Chapman hit 101 mph in the ninth and saved his 115th career game, an MLB record for Cuban pitchers.

Phillies reliever Luis Garcia pitched one perfect inning out of the bullpen and earned the win when the Phillies rallied against the Nationals. 

Garcia threw 11 pitches, seven for strikes. He struck out one batter. 

The Padres sent RHP Nick Vincent to to Triple-A El Paso on Friday and called up RHP Brandon Maurer . 

Vincent is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA for the Padres in three games this season. Maurer was 1-4, 4.65 for the Mariners last season. 

The team also moved pitcher Cory Luebke from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL with an elbow injury.