MLB Player News

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller started Wednesday's game against the Pirates as expected, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out five and allowing two home runs in six innings in his team's 5-1 loss.

Miller was removed from his previous start a week prior to Wednesday's game after taking a batted ball off his pitching elbow, but it didn't cost him any time. He owns an 11-8 record, 2.97 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 137:37 K:BB ratio heading into Monday's meeting with the Brewers.

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon blew his first save since taking over as the team's closer Tuesday against the Cardinals.

Melancon, who had been perfect in five prior attempts, allowed the Cardinals to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, though it was not entirely his fault. Pirates outfielder Startling Marte dropped a flyball that allowed a runner to reach with one out, and that runner would go on to score the tying run, after a walk and a hit.

Melancon was charged with one unearned run, while picking up a strikeout and a walk in the inning. He is five for six in save chances since Jason Grilli went to the disabled list, allowing just the one unearned run in eight innings in that span. 

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen endured a shaky outing but escaped with his 19th save of the season Tuesday night against the Mets.

Jansen worked his way around a two-out single to John Buck to cut the deficit t two runs. He allowed one run on one hit and one walk over one inning of work in a 4-2 win. He is 18 of 21 in save chances with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel collected his 37th save of the season Tuesday night against the Phillies.

The right-hander needed only nine pitches as he worked his way around a one-out single to Chase Utley and struck out Domonic Brown to preserve a 3-1 victory. He is 37 for 40 in save chances, with a 1.17 ERA and 0.95 ERA.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen secured a four-out save in his team's 4-2 win over the Mets Monday, striking out three without allowing any runners to reach base.

Jansen continues his incredible run, having allowed just one hit and no walks in 10 1/3 innings over his last 10 appearances while striking out 18 batters. Thirteen of those 18 strikeouts have come over 5 1/3 innings in his five August appearances. Jansen owns a 1.96 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 87:9 K:BB ratio in 59 2/3 innings.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman faced three batters Monday and struck all three out in his team's 2-0 win over the Cubs. It was the second straight day in which Chapman accomplished the feat, giving him a 83:21 K:BB ratio to go along with a 2.85 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 47 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals have won five times since July 25 and three of those games have been started by Joe Kelly, including Sunday's 8-4 win against the Cibs. Kelly took the no-decision, however, as he came out in the sixth inning because his pitch count reached 96.

"It looked like he was having trouble locating his fastball," manager Mike Matheny said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He was using his changeup a lot in tough counts. He’s been such a spark to us. Everything he’s been doing on the mound has been such a bonus."

Kelly is 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA and .225 opponents' batting average in his last six starts. Kelly, who began the year as a reliever, has tossed just 71 2/3 innings and isn't worn down like other starting pitchers.

"My body and my arm ... everything feels good," Kelly said. "Hopefully, I’ll stay just as strong the rest of the way out. And I think I will. I don’t feel any tiredness at all, mentally or physically."

Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly settled for a no-decision Sunday afternoon against the Cubs. The right-hander allowed four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 5 1/3 innings of an 8-4 win.

Kelly has permitted four earned runs combined over his last two starts (10 2/3 innings). He'll get another crack at the Cubs Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. He is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances (one start) during his career at Wrigley FIeld.

While Cubs closer Kevin Gregg checked out OK after getting hit by a line drive off the right shoulder Saturday against the Cardinals, manager Dale Sveum said Sunday he will use setup man Pedro Strop in save situations when Gregg is unavailable.

"There's no plans to put [Strop] there just to see him," Sveum said, per MLB.com.

Sveum said Strop could be a candidate to close games in 2014 since Gregg is only signed through this year, and Kyuji Fujikawa will be coming off Tommy John surgery and might not be available until the second half of the season. However, Sveum warned it's too soon to be looking at closer candidates for next year.

"He seems to be able to handle the eighth inning just fine," Sveum said Sunday. "[Naming the closer next year] is a long way away. Hopefully, you have seven closers out there."

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said starting pitcher Shelby Miller, who left his last start Wednesday against the Dodgers after getting hit by a comebacker on the elbow, will start Wednesday against the Pirates, according to the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat. Miller is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh this season.