MLB Player News

Mets prospect Rafael Montero will make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Yankees in the Subway Series. "We understand it's a debut on a big stage," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. "We think he's ready now."

Montero is the No. 2 prospect in the Mets' system.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson confirmed prospect Rafael Montero is on his way to the majors to start Wednesday against the Yankees. Montero, the Mets' No. 2 prospect, went 4-1 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in eight starts for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Montero is taking Jenrry Mejia's spot in the rotation.

Mets starting pitcher prospect Rafael Montero is on his way to New York, according to ESPN. Montero is a candidate to start Wednesday against the Yankees, if the Mets choose to remove Jenrry Mejia from the rotation.

Montero, who is considered the Mets' second-best prospect by MLB.com, is 4-1 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in eight starts for Triple-A Las Vegas. He also has 41 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings.

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller is 5-2 with a 3.22 ERA but his peripheral numbers are alarming, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among NL starters, Miller has the second-worst fielding independent ERA (5.81), the second-worst strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.22) and the worst walk rate (5.44 per 9 innings).

Miller has succeeded by buckling down with runners in scoring position, allowing two hits in 34 at-bats. "He's been cornered so many times but battles his way out of it," the paper said.

Miller will start Friday against the Braves.

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller (5-2) fell two outs shy of a quality start, but still managed to come away with the victory Sunday night against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Miller surrendered a two-run home run to Jordy Mercer in the fourth inning for his only damage of the night. He was charged with two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 victory. He tossed 95 pitches, 55 for strikes.

Over his last three starts covering 16 1/3 innings, Miller has allowed seven earned runs. He will make his next start Friday at home against Atlanta. He allowed two runs in five innings his last time out against the Braves on May 5.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (0-2) had an outing to forget Sunday afternoon against the Dodgers, suffering his second loss of the season in a 7-4 defeat in extras.

Jansen surrendered run-scoring singles to Pablo Sandoval and Hector Sanchez in the 10th inning. A third run was scored on a wild pitch by J.P. Howell. Jansen was charged with three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one in one-third of an inning. 

Jansen has allowed four runs over his last 3 1/3 innings. He owns a 4.58 ERA in 17 2/3 innings of relief this season.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman had a spectacular season debut during a 4-1 win Sunday against the Rockies. Chapman, who had missed several weeks after getting struck in the head by a line drive in spring training, struck out the side in the ninth inning to record his first save.

Chapman came out firing in the ninth, going up 0-2 on Troy Tulowitzki to start the inning. Unfortunately, he then threw four straight balls, issuing a walk to Tulowitzki. However, Chapman, who was regularly touching 100 mph on the radar gun, was unfazed.

The hard-throwing left-hander bounced back immediately by retiring Carlos Gonzalez on three pitches. He then got Nolan Arenado and Justin Morneau to strikeout as well to finish off the win.

Mets manager Terry Collins said he planned to speak Sunday with general manager Sandy Alderson about the final spot in the team's rotation, which is currently occupied by Jenrry Mejia. 

Collins has avoided questions in recent days about his future plans for Mejia. Whether or not he makes his next start Wednesday against the Yankees could come down to the team feeling comfortable enough with one of its pitching prospects making his first start against a tough opponent.

Rafael Montero and Jacob deGrom are considered the leading candidates to join the rotation, if Mejia loses his spot. Reliever Daisuke Matsuzaka could also be an option to pitch Wednesday.

"The answer to me is yes, it will have something to do with it," Collins said of the Subway Series. "It's going to be against Masahiro Tanaka. It's going to be here. So I think you've certainly go to take it into consideration."

Braves close Craig Kimbrel blew his second save of the season Friday, but was right back at it in a 2-0 win over the Cubs Saturday.

Kimbrel tossed a scoreless ninth in the win, striking out two batters and walking one for his 10th save. He is 10 for 12 on save chances, with a 2.51 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings of work.  

Pirates closer Mark Melancon was playing with fire in the ninth inning against the Cardinals Saturday, but worked out of trouble to secure a 4-3 win.

Melancon allowed the leadoff runner to reach base, and had two runners on with two out at one point, but he struck out the final better he faced to close out the game. Melancon struck out two batters in route to his fourth save of the season, while lowering his ERA to 1.50.