MLB Player News

The Phillies announced Sunday they optioned reliever Justin De Fratus to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. They recalled reliever Luis Garcia from Lehigh Valley to take his roster spot.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen made a rare one-out save Saturday night against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Jansen entered the game for Brandon League, who allowed three runs in the ninth inning. He struck out Gerardo Parra for the final out of the game. The right-hander is 3 for 4 in save chances with a 4.50 ERA in six innings pitched.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel entered Saturday's contest against Washington in the ninth inning with a three-run advantage. 

Kimbrel worked past a one-out infield single as he struck out one in a scoreless ninth, securing a 6-3 win and his fifth save of the season. He owns a 1.59 ERA and a 12:1 K:BB ratio in 12 2/3 innings pitched.

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon was charged with the loss Saturday night against Milwaukee. 

Melacon entered the game in the eighth inning and surrendered the go-ahead single to Jonathan Lucroy. He coughed up one run on three hits while striking out one in one inning pitched. He owns a 3.00 ERA with 4:0 K:BB ratio in six innings of work this season.

Mets reliever Vic Black was able to pitch Friday for Triple-A Las Vegas, after coming off the disabled list with a neck injury. He struck out two batters and walked one in a scoreless inning in his first game back.

Black was on the DL for just a few days due to a pinched nerve, and could pitch his way to the majors at some point this season. He posted a 3.71 ERA in 18 appearances with the Pirates and Mets last year. 

The Nationals have recalled outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and pitcher Blake Treinen from Triple-A on Saturday, the team announced.

Souza batted .273 with two home runs in seven games in the minors. Treinen has not allowed an earned run in five innings pitched in the minors.

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly put together a quality start on Friday, but failed to factor into the decision in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs in extras.

Kelly tossed six scoreless innings before surrendering a run-scoring single to Ryan Sweeney in the seventh inning. He was charged with one unearned run on six hits and no walks while striking out three over six innings pitched.

Kelly has allowed just one earned run over 11 1/3 innings pitched to start the season. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman will take an important step in his recovery from a head injury when he throws a bullpen session on Monday, according to MLB.com.

Chapman will certainly need a rehab stint in the minors and is not expected to return to the Reds until about mid-May.

Any slight failure by Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to start this season was bound to be noticed. After all, he was virtually perfect in 2013.

So now that he has given up a run in consecutive appearances for the first time since last May, eyes have been opened. Jansen blew a save against Detroit on Tuesday before his team rallied to win, then took the loss Wednesday night by surrendering a home run to Victor Martinez. But Don Mattingly claimed he's not worried.

"No real concerns," he told the Los Angeles Times. "Kenley's stuff is good. It's coming out good. He's healthy. I think we're going to be OK."

Jansen, who racked up 26 saves in 29 chances with a 1.41 ERA after being named the closer a year ago, has yielded 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings this year with a 4.76 ERA.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struggled for the second outing in a row Wednesday against the Tigers, in a 7-6 extra-innings loss.

Jansen did not enter the game in a save situation, but still struggled to set the Tigers down. He couldn't even make it through a whole inning, as he was pulled following a leadoff home run and a pair of singles with two outs. 

Jansen was charged with the loss, as the Dodgers could not rally in the bottom half of the inning. He is now 0-1 with two saves in three opportunities on the season, with a 4.76 ERA in 5 2/3 innings of work.