MLB Player News

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson (elbow) threw another bullpen session Tuesday morning, according to MLB.com. Manager Kirk Gibson still won't announce a timetable for his return.

"I have an idea in my head, but I hate to say it," Gibson said.

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly has progressed to throwing off a mound and is getting closer to going out on a rehab assignment, FOX Sports Midwest reports.

Kelly has been sidelined since mid-April while recovering from a hamstring injury, and he'll likely need multiple rehab appearances before returning to the major-league team. He gave up just one earned run in 15 1/3 innings over three starts before hitting the disabled list.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel recorded his 17th save Monday, striking out two batters and walking one in a scoreless ninth inning to finish off his team's 3-1 win over the Rockies.

Kimbrel bounced back from blowing a save in his last appearance to deliver a vintage performance Monday, though he has walked four batters in 5 1/3 innings over his last six outings. He owns a 1.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB ratio in 23 2/3 innings.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struck out two during a 1-2-3 ninth inning in his team's 6-2 win over the Reds Monday.

Jansen hadn't appeared in a game since the previous Monday, so the team brought him in to protect a four-run lead. He owns a 3.46 ERA and 44:10 K:BB ratio in 26 innings.

While Shelby Miller's complete game shutout Saturday at Toronto was just his second quality start in his last five, it was the fifth in five in which he was generally in the strike zone. He has issued seven walks during that stretch after issuing 27 in his first eight starts.

The improved control has for the most part coincided with a change in arsenal. About one-third of the way through last season -- which is basically when things went sour for him -- he stopped throwing his curveball so much and eventually added a cutter to his repertoire.

Five starts ago, he began featuring his curveball more. His control improved, and he no longer seemed like a lost cause. In Saturday's start, he didn't feature his curveball as much, but his pitch selection was still vastly different from earlier this season, which shows flexibility. That's a big deal for pitcher who has repeatedly gotten in trouble for shaking off the catcher too much in the past.

If nothing else, it's a change for Miller, and a change that yields results is probably a change for the better. Nobody questions his talent, so coming off his best start of the year, he probably needs to be owned in all Fantasy leagues.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop was charged with a blown save and the loss Sunday afternoon against the Marlins.

Strop surrendered a sacrifice fly and allowed another run to score on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. He was charged with two earned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two over one inning of a 4-3 defeat. He owns a 4.58 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 17 2/3 innings of relief.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman turned in an impressive performance Sunday against the Phillies.

Chapman came on with a three-run lead in the ninth inning. He didn't disappoint, striking out the side on 16 pitches. Chapman now has nine saves on the year after missing the first month due to a facial fracture. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel couldn't convert a save opportunity Saturday, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out two in his team's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Kimbrel continues to be dominant, with 40 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings this season, but Saturday's blown save was his third of the season. He converted 50 of his 54 save opportunitles last season. Kimbrel owns a 1.99 ERA and 40:10 K:BB ratio while racking up 16 saves.

The Nationals took it easy on Blake Treinen in his return to the rotation, though he still pitched efficiently enough to finish six innings in a no-decision against the Padres.

Treinen needed just 63 pitches to get through six solid innings, as he let the defense do much of the work behind him. He struck out just one batter and walked none, while throwing 42 of 63 pitches for strikes in the outing. Treinen allowed two runs on five hits in his six innings of work, and was in line for the first win of his career before a blown save by Rafael Soriano.

Treinen made his return to the rotation after pitching just two total innings since May 22, so it makes sense that his workload was limited. He has a 1.78 ERA in 25 1/3 innings of work on the season and should make his net start Thursday against the Giants. 

The Phillies will call up reliever Ken Giles from Triple-A Lehigh Valley Sunday, with Mike Adams hitting the 15-day disabled list.

Giles has been dominant in the minors this season, sporting a fastball that regularly sits in the high 90's. He has 38 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings of work between Double-A and Triple-A this season.