MLB Player News

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel is finding his stride, as he struck out the side for the second outing in a row in a 3-2 win over the Rockies Friday.

Kimbrel set down each batter he faced on just 13 pitches total Friday for the save, his 13th of the season. He has blown two saves while posting a 1.96 ERA, with 36 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings of work.  

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman picked up his second save in a row Friday, after blowing his first of the season earlier in the week.

Chapman allowed one his in the ninth inning against the Cardinals, bringing up the tying run with two outs. He induced a flyball from Shane Robinson to end the game, while also striking out one batter in the frame.

Chapman has allowed two runs in his first seven innings of work, with four hits, three walks and 12 strikeouts to his name. He is 4 for 5 on save opportunities since returning from the disabled list.  

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen shut the door on the Phillies Friday, in a 2-0 win.

Jansen tossed a perfect ninth inning in the win, and needed just 12 pitches to do so. He struck out one batter en route to his 14th save in 16 opportunities. 

Following Friday's win over the Marlins, the Brewers confirmed what seemed obvious for Sunday's; starter Yovani Gallardo's ankle will keep him off the mound for his next start.

Manager Ron Roenicke told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Jimmy Nelson will take the ball for Sunday's series finale instead of Gallardo, though there is no indication Gallardo will require a disabled list trip. Gallardo is likely to miss just the one start, so it is not clear what the move to open a roster spot for Nelson will entail.

Nelson is one of the team's top prospects, and has been dealing at the Triple-A level this season. He has a 1.71 ERA in 58 innings of work, while striking out 58 batters and walking just 17. 

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller's winning streak came to an end Friday, in a 5-3 loss to the Reds.

Miller, who had not lost in seven starts dating back to his second outing of the season, fell in his second-worst start of the season. He allowed four runs on five hits and one walk in five innings of work, while striking out five batters on 80 pitches.

This was just the second time all season Miller allowed more than three earned runs, and he lost the previous outing as well. He is 6-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 10 starts heading into his next one, set for Wednesday against the Yankees.  

After missing one month with an oblique injury, Jason Grilli returned to the Pirates bullpen Friday ready to take back the closer role he had entrusted to Mark Melancon.

The problem is Melancon was so effective in the role that Grilli may not have as long of a leash going forward.

It won't be an issue if Grilli gets back to pitching like he did in the first half last year, recording 29 saves with a 1.99 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings. But since straining his right flexor tendon almost immediately after the All-Star break, he hasn't been the same, recording seven saves with a 4.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 17 appearances.

Maybe he just hasn't had a chance to get comfortable between the two injuries and will get back to dominating after a few uninterrupted weeks. But if he continues to flounder, you couldn't blame the Pirates for going back to what seems like a sure thing in Melancon.

Sure, you'd like to free up a roster spot by dropping Melancon, but given how valuable he would be as a closer, let's wait for Grilli to get his legs under him first.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel needed 18 pitches as he struck out the side to close out a 5-4 win and the save Thursday night against the Brewers.

Kimbrel has not allowed a run over his last four innings pitched. He is 12 for 14 in save opportunities with a 2.08 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and 33:7 K:BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings.

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon struck out one and worked his way around two walks in a scoreless ninth inning to secure a 3-1 win and the save against the Nationals on Wednesday. Melancon is 8 for 10 in save chances this season with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in 22 innings of relief.

Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen had some issues with his command, issuing five walks in a loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The right-hander permitted two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four over 5 2/3 innings of a 3-1 defeat.

Treinen dropped to 0-2 on the year in his first start since May 6. He owns a 1.56 ERA, a .67 WHIP in 17 1/3 innings. If he remains in the rotation, he'll make his next start Tuesday at home against Miami.

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly has admitted to still feeling tightness in his hamstring, MLB.com reports. Kelly continues to throw long toss and doesn't know when he'll resume throwing from a mound.

"There's not really much pain there anymore, but it's just tight in some spots still," Kelly said. "It feels better all the time. Every day I feel like it improves."