MLB Player News

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.   

Marlins starting pitcher Brad Hand pitched well for three innings before running out of steam in his spot start Wednesday against the Nationals.

Hand opened the outing, his first start of the season, with three shutout innings. Unfortunately, that was about all he had in him, as he ran into trouble in the fourth. Hand was tagged for a three-run home run by Bryce Harper that went far into the third deck in right field, ending his night.

Hand was ultimately charged with three runs on four hits and a pair of walks in 3 1/3 innings. Hand made his first two appearances of the season out of the bullpen, so it wasn't a surprise to see him tire in a start. He will try to get over the hump in his next start, set for Monday against the Nationals.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel inherited two runners with one out in the ninth inning and his team up 4-0, and he was barely able to hang on after giving up two hits and a walk to earn his fourth save of the season in his team's 4-3 win over the Mets Wednesday.

Kimbrel was charged with one earned run in two-thirds of an inning, and he was able to get strikeouts on both of his outs, including one with runners on first and third to end the game. It was the first time Kimbrel gave up a run this season, and he owns a 2.45 ERA and 8:1 K:BB ratio in 3 2/3 innings.

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller lost his second game of the season Wednesday against the Reds.

Miller was able to pitch around trouble in the first inning. After giving up a leadoff triple to Billy Hamilton, Miller managed to get out of the inning unscathed. He escaped from a similar jam in the third, after giving up a walk and single to consecutive batters. 

Miller gave up his first two runs in the fourth, when Devin Mesoraco was able to take a fastball out to left for a two-run shot. He gave up a third run on a Jay Bruce sac fly in the fifth. The ball wasn't hit deep, but Hamilton was tagging up and third and managed to beat the throw.

Miller gave up seven hits and three walks during the appearance. He struck out five batters. Miller's next start will come against the Brewers.