MLB Player News

The Rockies announced a pair of roster moves prior to Friday's game against the Dodgers. The team optioned reliever Chad Bettis to the minors and recalled Chris Martin from Triple-A Colorado Springs, the Denver Post reports.

Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly threw long toss on Friday without any complications, the FOX Sports Midwest reports on Friday. Kelly has been on the disabled list since April 16 because of a left hamstring strain. He is eligible to return from the disabled list May 1.

With Jason Grilli on the disabled list because of an oblique strain, Pirates reliever Mark Melancon could likely assume the closer role, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on Friday. Left-hander Tony Watson is also another candidate for the gig in the ninth inning.

Melancon has allowed just two runs over his first 11 innings pitched. He owns a 0.73 WHIP along with an 8:1 K:BB ratio over that span. Watson owns a 2.61 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP over 10 1/3 innings of work.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop was not available for Thursday's game, according to ESPN.

Strop threw 31 innings during Wednesday's contest, and will not be used Thursday. Manager Rick Renteria reiterated Thursday that the team is still utilizing a closer by committee approach in the late innings. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen continued to turn his season around Wednesday, recording his fourth save in a row in a 5-2 win over the Phillies.

Jansen retired the Phillies in order for the save, striking out one batter and ending the inning on 14 pitches. He has tossed four scoreless outings in a row, lowering his ERA to 3.46 for the season, with 24 strikeouts in 13 innings of work. He is 8 for 10 on save chances. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman (head) said he felt good after throwing live batting practice Wednesday, per The Cincinnati Enquirer.

"Normal, nothing out of the ordinary," he said.

Chapman will throw another batting practice session this weekend in Atlanta and then begin a rehab assignment.

"He threw all his pitches," manager Bryan Price said. "He was very sharp, good velocity. Good slider, good changeup. Looked like midseason form."

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel retired the side in order in the ninth inning Wednesday to net his sixth save during a 3-1 win against the Marlins.

Kimbrel opened the inning by getting Derek Dietrich to fly out to right field. He finished off the inning with strikeouts of Adeiny Hechavarria and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Kimbrel is 6 of 7 in save opportunities. He has five strikeouts in his last two appearances.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was unable to secure a save in his team's 4-2, 10-inning win over the Marlins Monday, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk but striking out three batters in the ninth inning.

Kimbrel walked the first batter he faced, watched the second reach on a catcher's interference ruling then gave up a game-tying double to the third. He buckled down after that, striking out the next three batters. Kimbrel's blown save was his first of the season, but it comes on the heels of him giving up two earned runs in his first appearance after missing a week due to injury. He owns a 4.91 ERA and 16:3 K:BB ratio in 7 1/3 innings.

Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover took the loss Monday after giving up one earned run on two hits and three walks in one inning of work as the Reds fell to the Pirates, 6-5.

Hoover (1-2) came into the game with two outs in the eighth and one man on, and he was able to escape the inning without giving up a run despite surrendering a walk and a hit. He wasn't as lucky in the ninth inning, as the Pirates managed a walkoff single with two outs after Hoover walked two batters in the inning. He owns a 13.50 ERA and 6:8 K:BB ratio in 5 1/3 innings.

The Mets inserted Kyle Farnsworth into the closing role this weekend, but general manager Sandy Alderson is keeping his options open regarding the role moving forward, including potentially using Carlos Torres or the recently removed Jose Valverde in the ninth inning at some point, the Star-Ledger reports.

"In my view we’ve got a lot of guys that are sort of on a par," Sandy Alderson regarding his comfort level with Farnsworth as closer. "Valverde pitches a little differently than he does over the first four, five outings, there’s no reason he can’t be as effective as he was yesterday. Torres has been very good for us. The nice thing about Carlos is that he can go more than one inning typically. So we’ll see how it goes with Farnsworth. I like the variety of options we may have going forward. The key is for guys to get better and we’ll also see how things develop at Vegas."

The Mets will likely stick with Farnsworth as long as he remains productive. He has given up just one earned run in 8 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking two.