MLB Player News

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth inning, striking out the side, to nail down a 2-1 win over the Padres on Sunday. Jansen earned his 22nd save in 25 chances while lowering his ERA to 4.26.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman earned his 13th save in 14 tries by striking out the side in the ninth against the Blue Jays on Sunday. In closing out the 4-3 win, Chapman lowered his ERA to 2.70 and now has 41 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly (hamstring) remains on track to begin a rehab assignment this week after throwing two innings during a simulated game Sunday, per MLB.com. The team will decide soon where Kelly will begin his rehab assignment.

"Today you could see he trusted it and let it go," manager Mike Matheny said. "He came in with a lot of bounce [after throwing]. He was extremely excited about how he felt."

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen secured his 21st save Saturday, giving up one hit and striking out one while pitching a scoreless ninth inning in his team's 4-2 win over the Padres.

Jansen took a loss Friday after giving up three earned runs, but he was able to rebound with a solid frame one day later. He's had trouble keeping teams off the scoreboard, posting a 4.40 ERA along with a 50:11 K:BB ratio in 30 2/3 innings.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon struck out the side Saturday to earn his 11th save and finish off his team's 5-3 win over the Cubs.

Melancon just replaced Jason Grilli in the closing role and acquitted himself just fine in his first save opportunity after the change was made. He owns a sparkling 1.83 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson could begin pitching in Arizona League games next week, MLB.com reports.

Hudson is trying to return from his second Tommy John surgery last June. The surgeries have kept him sidelined since early 2012.

The Rockies have promoted reliever Wilton Lopez and demoted fellow right-hander Chris Martin to Triple-A. They have also moved outfelder Michael Cuddyer to the 60-day disabled list.

Lopez had been sent down last week.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen imploded Friday, failing to hold on to a two-run lead in a 6-5 loss to the Padres.

Jansen simply couldn't get the Padres out, allowing three straight hits to open up the game, including a pair of doubles to tie it. He induced outs to the next two batters, but the second was a sacrifice fly to right field to end it, costing him the game.

Jansen has struggled to remain consistent this season, but still has 20 saves in 23 tries. He has a 4.55 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings, with 49 strikeouts and 11 walks. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was not pitching in a save situation Friday against the Blue Jays, but he took his second loss as he melted down late in a 14-9 loss.

Chapman was charged with sending the game into extras, with the scored tied 9-9 following a furious Blue Jays rally. Unfortunately, he came out with his worst performance of the season, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning before he was pulled.

Chapman is now 0-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings, though he had allowed just two runs prior to Friday's game. He is still 12 for 13 on save tries as well. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel allowed his first home run of the season Friday against the Nationals, in his fourth blown save.

Kimbrel allowed the Nationals to tie the game up on a two-run home run by infielder Anthony Rendon. Kimbrel ended the inning having allowed two runs on two walks and one hit while failing to record a strikeout for the first time since May. The Braves went on to win the game, 6-4, in extras.

Kimbrel has been just a little less dominant than usual this season, with a 2.45 ERA that is more than a run higher than his career mark. Still, he ranks second in the National League with 21 saves in 25 attempts, while striking out 52 batters in 29 1/3 innings.