MLB Player News

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman made what could be his final rehab outing Wednesday, and he didn't quite seem ready to return to the majors.

Chapman was tagged for three runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning, with one walk and a strikeout. He has allowed eight runs and seven hits in one full inning of work for Triple-A Louisville.

"He obviously wasn't terribly sharp," Reds manager Bryan Price told MLB.com Wednesday. "He got hit, walked a couple of guys, hit a guy, so it wasn't an excellent outing. We would like him, when we activate him, to be ready to go. We'll make an assessment, I'm sure, in the next couple of days."

The Reds' plan was always to have Chapman make four rehab appearances as he works his way back from being hit in the face by a line drive in the spring. Price will speak with the Louisville coaching staff before making a decision on Chapman's readiness, but he could be back with the big-league team Friday against the Rockies. 

Temporary Pirates closer Mark Melancon recovered from a blown save Monday to nail one down Wednesday against San Francisco.

Melancon entered with a one-run lead and retired the Giants on three straight flyouts to snag his second save of the season.

If the Mets choose to move Jenrry Mejia to the bullpen, then it doesn't mean Daisuke Matsuzaka, who lost out on the fifth spot in the rotation this spring, would move into the rotation, per The Star-Ledger.

"We haven’t even talked about the first part seriously yet, but what happens after, it wouldn’t necessarily be Daisuke gets it," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said.

Ricco said it is more like the Mets would turn to Rafael Montero or Jacob deGrom, who are both in the rotation at Triple-A Las Vegas, over Matsuzaka.

The Cubs announced reliever Pedro Strop will miss 3-4 weeks with a groin strain, per the Chicago Daily Herald. Strop was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday.

The Mets are not inclined to make a roster move to bolster their bullpen on Thursday's off-day, a source told the New York Daily News. However, future decisions this weekend could hinge on Jenrry Mejia's start Friday against the Phillies.

If Mejia struggles again, Daisuke Matsuzaka could be moved to the rotation and pitcher prospect Rafael Montero could be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to join the bullpen, Daily News writer Andy Martino speculates. Martino also feels if the Mets dip into the rotation at Las Vegas for bullpen help, then Montero would get the call over Jacob deGrom.

Mets reliever Carlos Torres is available Wednesday at Miami after missing Tuesday's game due to a lat injury, per Newsday.

Cubs pitcher Pedro Strop was removed from Tuesday's game against the White Sox after suffering a groin injury, ESPNChicago.com reports.

Strop gave up three earned runs on three hits and one walk while only recording one out in his team's 5-1 loss to the White Sox Tuesday. He'll undergo an MRI on the injured area Wednesday.

Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after Tuesday's loss to the Dodgers.

Treinen gave up three unearned runs in the loss but heads back to Syracuse after the spot start. He has given up just one earned run in 11 2/3 innings with the big-league team this season.

Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen took the loss in his spot start Tuesday, giving up three runs (none earned) on seven hits in five-plus innings while striking out two in his team's 8-3 loss to the Dodgers.

Treinen (0-1) cruised through five scoreless innings, but back-to-back errors put the first two batters of the sixth on. Treinen then gave up back-to-back singles to plate one and chase him from the game. Two of the runners the bullpen inherited came around to score. He owns a 0.77 ERA and 9:2 K:BB ratio in 11 2/3 innings. He should go back to the bullpen after the spot start.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his ninth save of the season in his team's 2-1 win over the Cardinals Tuesday.

Kimbrel ran into a little bit of trouble in mid-April after returning from a minor injury, but he's picked things up lately, striking out six in three innings over his last three outings while walking one and surrendering no hits. He owns a 2.19 ERA and 26:5 K:BB ratio in 12 1/3 innings.