MLB Player News

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel threw a 15-pitch side session Wednesday and declared his shoulder good to go, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

While Kimbrel is ready to return to his regular role, manager Fredi Gonzalez may elect to keep him out of Wednesday's game due to the cold weather. The closer owns a 1.59 ERA and 12:1 K:BB ratio along with five saves in 5 2/3 innings.

Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly is headed back to St. Louis Thursday to have his hamstring evaluated after he left Wednesday's game at Milwaukee due to tightness in his left hamstring.

MLB.com suggests Tyler Lyons could replace Kelly in the rotation, if he is unable to make his start Monday against the Mets.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond confirmed Wednesday pitcher Kevin Slowey will replace Brad Hand in the team's rotation starting Sunday against the Mariners. Hand will be moved back to the bullpen.

The Cardinals announced starting pitcher Joe Kelly left Wednesday's start at Milwaukee due to tightness in his left hamstring. Kelly was hurt trying to beat out a bunt in the fifth inning.

Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly left his start Wednesday at Milwaukee with an apparent hamstring injury.

Kelly called for the trainer after trying to beat out a bunt single in the top of the fifth inning. Kelly would not take the hill in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he was replaced by Seth Maness.

Kelly left trailing the game 1-0, but he pitched well before getting hurt. The right-handed hurler allowed one unearned run on three hits and no walks, while striking out two in four innings. He lowered his ERA to 0.59.

The only run Milwaukee scored off Kelly came on Carlos Gomez's RBI double in the third inning. However, he was charged with an unearned run as Logan Schafer, who scored the run on Gomez's double, reached base on a Matt Adams' fielding error.

Kelly's next scheduled start is for Monday against the Mets, but his status is up in the air following Wednesday's injury.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman (head) is scheduled to throw his second bullpen session Thursday, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. He is scheduled to travel with the team and throw every third day.

Manager Bryan Price said after three or four more bullpen sessions, Chapman could be ready for live batting practice. Chapman will need to receive medical clearance before throwing to live batters.

"His arm's in great shape, it's just getting his endurance," Price said. "He was really shut down in all capacities, he wasn't able to condition a great deal. He has been able to go out and play catch and kept his arm in shape and then he's built up his endurance from running and he'll have to build up his endurance throwing, as well."

It appears the Marlins will start pitcher Kevin Slowey on Sunday against the Mariners, moving Brad Hand back to the bullpen after two ineffective starts, per MLB.com. Although, there has been no official word from the team yet.

Slowey was 1-6 with a 4.21 ERA in 14 starts last season. Hand is 0-1 with an 11.37 ERA in two starts this season.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen blew a save opportunity in his team's game against the Giants Tuesday.

Jansen gave up an RBI double to tie Tuesday's game at 2-2 before it went into extra innings. He ended his night after allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two. Jansen owns a 4.50 ERA and 15:4 K:BB ratio in eight innings.

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller picked up his first win Tuesday, allowing just one earned run on three hits and three walks in six innings while striking out seven in his team's 6-1 win over the Brewers.

Miller (1-2) was charged with the loss in each of his first two outings before breaking through with a win Tuesday, giving up just a fourth-inning solo home run. He owns a 4.67 ERA and 14:9 K:BB ratio in 17 1/3 innings. Miller is scheduled to face Nationals Sunday.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, who sat out Monday's game against the Phillies due to a sore right shoulder, played catch Tuesday afternoon, per MLB.com. Kimbrel could be available Tuesday, if the game against Philadelphia isn't rained out.