MLB Player News

Pirates closer Mark Melancon picked up another save Tuesday against the Tigers.

Melancon entered the game with a two-run lead, but made things interesting. With one out, Melancon managed to put the tying run on base. With the potential winning run at the plate, he induced a fly out and a ground out to end the game. Melancon picked up his 22nd save. He lowered his ERA to 2.15 with the outing. 

Mets pitcher Rafael Montero had a tough time with the long ball Tuesday.

Montero allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two. The Nationals were able to strike early, picking up a two-run homer from Bryce Harper in the second inning. Montero was able to settle in for a couple innings at that point, but again fell into trouble in the sixth inning. Anthony Rendon hit a solo shot to lead off the inning. After an Adam LaRoche walk, Montero gave up a two-run shot to Ian Desmond. He was pulled before recording an out during the inning.

With the loss, Montero dropped to 0-3 on the year. His next start will come against the Cubs. 

Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen picked up his 33rd save Tuesday against the Braves.

Jansen entered with a two-run lead in the ninth. He tossed a perfect inning of work, striking out two during the outing. With the appearance, Jansen's ERA dropped to 2.94. 

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller suffered a loss Monday, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings and striking out five in his team's 6-5 defeat against the Marlins.

Miller (8-9) gave up his first three runs on two home runs by Giancarlo Stanton in the first and third innings. He then surrendered two more runs on three hits in the fourth. Miller had given up a total of five earned runs in 18 2/3 innings over his previous three starts before Monday's clunker. He owns a 4.17 ERA and 90:58 K:BB ratio in 133 2/3 innings, and he's scheduled to face the Padres Saturday.

Granted, Rafael Montero's first stint in the big leagues didn't go so well, and he may end up being just a temporary replacement for Jacob deGrom, who went on the DL Monday with rotator cuff tendinitis. But he still has the kind of talent that could translate to immediate Fantasy results, especially with his recent turnaround at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Las Vegas -- or anywhere in the Pacific Coast League, really -- is an especially difficult place to pitch. Though Montero has fared better than most young pitchers there, compiling a 3.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 15 starts, the way he's done it isn't anyone's idea of progress. His stellar control put him on the map as a prospect, but instead of attacking hitters in the hitter-friendly environment, he's pitched around them, issuing 3.9 walks per nine innings. And it continued in his first stint in the majors, when he issued 5.0 walks per nine innings.

Over his last seven starts, though, he's issued 2.7 walks per nine innings, and the result was a 2.10 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He allowed just one hit over eight innings in his last start, striking out 11 and walking two.

He may have very well righted himself. I'm not rushing to pick him up just yet, but I'm keeping a close eye on Montero in his return Tuesday.

With Jacob deGrom on the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis, the Mets pitcher Rafael Montero will be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas and make at least two starts, according to ESPN. His first start will come Tuesday at home against the Nationals, followed by Sunday against the Cubs at Citi Field.

Montero posted a 5.40 ERA and owned a 17:11 K:BB ratio in four big-league starts (20 innings) in May.

Fuel to the speculation fire has been provided by ESPN, which is claiming through a source that right-hander Rafael Montero is set to start Tuesday for the Mets in place of the injured Jacob deGrom. The team, however, would not announce that decision until deGrom's sore shoulder is examined Monday.

Terry Collins said, however, that Montero would not be promoted if deGrom avoids the disabled list. The Mets would give that start to a pitcher on their current staff instead.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel made quick work of the Nationals on Sunday for the save. He struck out one and needed only nine pitches to close out a perfect ninth inning for a 3-1 win. He has converted 34 of 38 save chances, with a 1.91 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP over 47 innings of relief.

Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson was effective over six innings Sunday against the Dodgers. However, the rookie pitcher came into Sunday's start as a major underdog since he was facing off against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who proved to be just that much better than Nelson in a 5-1 win for Los Angeles.

Nelson (2-3) was out in front of Kershaw for a few innings with a 1-0 lead before Adrian Gonzalez tied the game at 1 with a sac fly in the third inning. The Dodgers then took the lead for good on Matt Kemp's one-out RBI single in the fifth inning.

The rookie hurler allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out three in six innings. Kershaw allowed just one run over eight innings.

Nelson's luck doesn't appear to be changing for the better heading into his next start since he will face off against Kershaw in a rematch Friday.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco proved to be a nuisance for Marlins starting pitcher Brad Hand during a 7-2 loss Sunday at Cincinnati. The left-handed hurler allowed seven runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out two in 4 2/3 innings.

Hand (2-4) went into the bottom of the first inning with a 1-0 lead before Mesoraco hit a two-out, two-run homer.

Hand would then settle down and not allow another run until the fifth inning, but that's when the wheels came off. Hand gave Cincinnati a 3-2 lead when he walked Todd Frazier with the bases loaded. Hand was then chased from the game one batter later as Mesoraco crushed his fourth career grand slam.

Sunday was the first time in eight starts since rejoining the rotation Hand allowed more than three earned runs. It was also the first time in eight starts he allowed a home run. 

He is expected to make his next start Friday against the Diamondbacks.