MLB Player News

While many closers have blown saves early this season, Craig Kimbrel continued Friday to shut down one and all. He blanked the Nationals in the ninth for his third save.

Kimbrel retired Washington in order and in style, striking out two. He fanned Ian Desmond and Jose Lobaton to start the inning before enducing Kevin Frandsen to pop out. Kimbrel is the first closer in the majors this year to reach three saves.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said pitcher Daniel Hudson, who is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery since 2012, is expected back around June or July.

"He threw his second or third bullpen the other day and was just awesome," Gibson said, per MLB.com. "We're looking at right around a July return, something like that, either June or July if everything goes good."

When he does return, it appears Hudson will be converted to a reliever.

"I think we would not do that," Gibson said this week about Hudson returning as a starter. "It probably would be more in the bullpen."

Rockies reliever Mark Belisle is no closer, but he still earned a blown save Thursday against Miami with a brutal performance.

The veteran right-hander entered with his team clinging to a 5-4 lead and exited responsible for an 8-5 deficit that proved to be the final score.

Belisle started out fine by retiring two of the first three batters he faced. He then surrendered three of the four singles he gave up, as well as a walk, to throw the game away and raise his earned run average to 18.00.

With closer Jose Veras getting the day off after throwing 38 pitches during Wednesday's 16-inning game, the Cubs turned to reliever Pedro Strop to close out Thursday's game against the Pirates. He got the job done in a 3-2 win.

Strop gave up a leadoff single to Neil Walker, but he got Gaby Sanchez to pop out on a bunt and then Tony Sanchez lined into a double play to end the game. Strop was involved in both plays, as he caught Gaby Sanchez's failed bunt attempt and snagged Tony Sanchez's liner before throwing to first base to double off Walker.

Strop has opened the season with three straight scoreless appearances, allowing two hits and striking out three in three innings.

Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover picked up his first win of the season Wednesday, walking one and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning before his team went on to beat the Cardinals, 1-0.

Hoover struggled during spring training but turned in a strong debut. He should be the first option for saves in Cincinnati until Jonathan Broxton returns from the disabled list.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson will return to the team as a reliever when he's fully recovered from Tommy John surgery later this season, FOXSportsArizona.com reports.

It's the same plan that the Braves used when Kris Medlen returned in the middle of the 2012 season. Hudson look "awesome" throwing off a mound on Tuesday and will continue to rehab from multiple surgeries to his pitching elbow.

We are just two days into April, but Braves closer Craig Kimbrel already has two saves after closing out Wednesday's 1-0 win against the Brewers.

Kimbrel, who also had a save Tuesday, tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning Wednesday, recording one strikeout. Kimbrel has four strikeouts through his first two innings. He struck out the side Tuesday on 19 pitches.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel didn't need long to knock off the cobwebs, as he looked to be in midseason form in his first appearance Tuesday, locking up a 5-2 win over the Brewers.

Kimbrel needed 19 pitches to retire the side in order, throwing 11 of them for strikes. He recorded each out via strikeout in the outing, a feat he accomplished 16 times a year ago.   

Kimbrel has put together a strong three-year run as the team's closer, including a career-best 50 saves a year ago. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had an eventful ninth inning Tuesday, giving up two hits and one walk but holding the opposition scoreless while striking out two to earn his second save in his team's 3-2 win over the Padres.

Jansen had no breathing room with this save opportunity and came close to squandering the lead, alternating singles and outs against the first four batters before striking out his first batter of the game, walking the next to load the bases and closing things out with a swinging strikeout of Padres catcher Nick Hundley. Jansen owns a 3.86 ERA and 4:2 K:BB ratio in 2 2/3 innings.

Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez will undergo Tommy John surgery Tuesday.

Hernandez met with Dr. James Andrews Monday, who determined he should have the procedure. Hernandez will likely miss all of 2014 in order to recover. He posted a 4.48 ERA in 62 1/3 innings last year.