MLB Player News

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon recorded his fourth save in a row Wednesday against the Brewers, following a late rally to put Pittsburgh up.

Melancon entered the game following a three-run top of the ninth, and retired the Brewers with little trouble. He allowed a two-out single, but then recorded an easy groundball to close out the inning.

Melancon has five saves in six chances since stepping in for an injured Jason Grilli at the start of the month. He has a 1.42 ERA on the season as a whole. 

The Mets are expected to recall reliever Josh Edgin, after releasing Kyle Farnsworth Wednesday, according to ESPN.com.

 Edgin has been pitching for Triple-A Las Vegas this season, posting a 4.97 ERA in 12 2/3 innings of work. The 27-year-old last pitched with the Mets in 2013, putting up a 3.77 ERA in 28 2/3 innings. 

Mets pitcher Rafael Montero held his own in his major-league debut Wednesday, a 4-0 loss to the Yankees.

Montero tossed a quality start in his first time out, though he struggled keeping the ball down. He gave up five hits in six innings of work, four of them going for extra bases en route to three earned runs. He struck out three batters and walked just one, while throwing 68 of 108 pitches for strikes.  

Montero took the loss as the Mets' offense provided little support in his debut. He will hope for better things in his next start, set for Tuesday against the Dodgers. 

With Wednesday's game against the Cubs rained out, the Cardinals are able to push everyone in the rotation back one day.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that will push Jaime Garcia into the rotation in Sunday's spot against the Braves, assuming he gets through his side session Thursday without issue. Michael Wacha will pitch Thursday, followed by Lance Lynn Friday, Shelby Miller Saturday, Garcia Sunday and Adam Wainwright Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman wasn't pitching in a save situation, but he still entered Tuesday's game against the Padres with a lot on the line with the game tied, 1-1.  

Chapman entered the game in the ninth inning and surrendered a solo home run to Chase Headley, which proved to be the game-winner. The Reds went on to lose 2-1, as Chapman took his first loss in his second appearance of the season.

Chapman struck out two batters in addition to the home run, and now has five strikeouts and two walks in two innings of work since returning from the disabled list. 

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson threw sliders in a bullpen session for the first time Tuesday, a big step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Hudson has been working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery in the last two seasons, and the team is taking his recovery slowly. According to FOXSportsArizona.com, Hudson will still spend the next month or so working on bullpen sessions before he is able to take his next step.

One day after giving up three runs in a loss Sunday, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen righted the ship against the Marlins, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to secure his 12th save of the season in Monday's 6-5 win.

Jansen battled through a long at-bat to get the first batter on a pop out before recording the second out on a fly ball to right by the next batter. He then struck out the third batter he faced to finish off the Marlins. Jansen owns a 4.34 ERA and 31:9 K:BB ratio in 18 2/3 innings.

So the Mets are calling up Rafael Montero to start Wednesday's game against the Yankees, which of course has Fantasy owners racing to see what he was doing at Triple-A.

It's even better than it looks.

Not that there's anything wrong with a 3.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP or 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings, but keep in mind he achieved those numbers despite pitching at Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League, one of the most hitter-friendly leagues in the minors. Zack Wheeler had a 3.93 ERA in the Pacific Coast League before his promotion last year. Shelby Miller had a 4.74 ERA before his promotion in 2012. James Paxton had a 4.45 ERA in his final stint there, and Tyler Thornburg had a 5.79 ERA.

In terms of pure upside, Montero is probably closer to Paxton and Thornburg than Wheeler and Miller, but one advantage he has over Wheeler and Miller is command. Again, he didn't show it in his latest stint because pitching in the PCL discourages pitchers from pitching to contact, but over four minor-league seasons, he has issued just 2.0 walks per nine innings.

Already 23, he could be an instant success at the big-league level, yet he won't generate near the buzz Noah Syndergaard will when he gets the call later this year. If you have a roster spot to play with, you might still have a shot at him in your league.

Marlins pitchers Kevin Slowey and Brad Hand are two options to make Wednesday's start against the Dodgers after Jose Fernandez was placed on the disabled list, FOX Sports reports.

The Marlins could also opt to bring a minor-leaguer up to make Wednesday's start. Whoever makes the start could be auditioning for a long-term spot in the rotation if Fernandez's elbow injury is ruled to be serious.

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly resumed long toss Monday, MLB.com reports. However, the pitcher doesn't have a timetable to resume pitching,

Kelly is recovering from a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined until next month.