MLB Player News

Dodgers close Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth in Tuesday's game against the Reds, a 6-3 win.

Pitching for the second night in a row, Jansen set the Reds down in order on just nine pitches. He struck out two batters to end the outing, giving him his 16th save.

Jansen has blown two saves this season, while striking out 39 batters in 24 innings en route to a 3.75 ERA. 

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly is still in the "healing phase" of his recovery from a hamstring injury, as manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com Tuesday.

Kelly has been limited to throwing off flat ground as he works his way back from a hamstring injury suffered in mid-April. At this point, it is not yet known when he will be able to throw off the mound, let alone return to game action. He will also require a minor-league rehab stint before coming back from the injury.

The Marlins and Nationals had their matchup rained out at Nationals Park Tuesday, and the game will not be made up over the next two days. Even with both clubs off Thursday, the game will be made up at a later date, manager Matt Williams told reporters after the game was postponed.

The Nationals will skip Blake Treinen in the rotation, with Jordan Zimmermann expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday. Treinen will work out of the bullpen until his next turn in the rotation comes. The Marlins have not announced their rotation plans yet. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen entered in the eighth and worked past a jam in the ninth to secure a 4-3 win and the save Monday night against Cincinnati.

Jansen pitched 1 1/3 innings and yielded one hit, with one walk and two strikeouts. of his 26 pitches, 18 were strikes. It was the fourth four-out save of Jansen's career. His last came four-out save came on Aug. 12, 2013 against the Mets. He is 15 for 17 in save chances with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 23 innings of relief.

Just a day after being sent down to the minors following a doubleheader, the Mets have recalled pitcher Vic Black from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, ESPN New York reports. Black will replace Jose Valverde's roster spot, who was released following Monday's loss to Pittsburgh.

Black has not made an appearance for the Mets this season. He's 0-1 with a 1.45 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 18:17 K:BB ratio in 18 2/3 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon got the call again to close out Monday's game against the Mets. He answered the call by earning his 10th save in a 5-3 win.

Melancon's outing got off to an inauspicious start as Lucas Duda crushed the first pitch he saw from Melancon over the right-field wall to cut the deficit to two runs. Though, Melancon was unfazed by the home run. He retired the next three batters in order, which included strikeouts of Juan Centeno and Matt den Dekker to finish off the win.

Melancon is now 10 of 12 in save opportunities. He has six strikeouts in his last four outings (four innings).

The Mets have optioned pitcher Vic Black to Triple-A Las Vegas following Sunday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, the team announced. Black did not appear in a game during the doubleheader and has not made an appearance for the big-league club this season.

The Brewers optioned pitcher Jimmy Nelson to Triple-A Nashville after Sunday's win over the Marlins.

Nelson pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his season debut Sunday to earn a victory, but he wasn't needed for another start after Yovani Gallardo was deemed good to go moving forward. Nelson returns to a 5-1 record with a 1.71 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 58:17 K:BB ratio in 58 innings over nine starts with Nashville.

Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson was firing on all cylinders in his season debut Sunday, giving up five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out six in his team's 7-1 victory over the Marlins.

Nelson (1-0) was filling in for the injured Yovani Gallardo, who may be able to make his next scheduled start. If Gallardo is cleared, Nelson will likely be sent back down to Triple-A, where he is 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 58:17 K:BB ratio in 58 innings over nine starts.

Mets pitcher Rafael Montero pitched a gem Sunday but didn't factor into the decision, giving up one earned run on just two hits and three walks in six innings while striking out 10 in his team's 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Montero was much better than his performance in his first two starts (both losses), but a home run surrendered to the second batter of the game wound up keeping him from having a chance at a win. He owns a 4.96 ERA and 17:9 K:BB ratio in 16 1/3 innings. Montero is scheduled to face the Phillies Friday.