MLB Player News

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman stranded two runners in scoring position to earn his 24th save of the year in his team's 5-2 win over the Dodgers Thursday. Chapman struck out two while walking one and allowing one hit.

Chapman has struck out six batters in three scoreless innings since the All-Star break, lowering his ERA to 2.59 to go with a 1.13 WHIP and 70:20 K:BB ratio in 41 2/3 innings.

Rockies pitcher Drew Pomeranz is expected to be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left biceps injury, the Denver Post reports. Pomeranz was unable to complete a bullpen session Thursday because of pain in the biceps.

The Rockies are expected to replace Pomeranz in the rotation with Collin McHugh, who was scratched from his scheduled Triple-A start Thursday.

Rockies pitcher Collin McHugh was scratched from his start with Triple-A Colorado Springs Thursday and is likely to be recalled to fill the rotation spot of Drew Pomeranz, who is expected to be placed on the disabled list, the Denver Post reports.

McHugh was 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and three strikeouts in seven innings with the Mets before being traded to the Rockies in mid-June.

The Rockies hadn't determined as of Thursday morning whether pitcher Drew Pomeranz would make Saturday's scheduled start against the Brewers, MLB.com reports. Pomeranz says he doesn't have any problems with his shoulder, which was sen heavily wrapped earlier in the week.

"It's fine," Pomeranz told MLB.com. "In my bullpen sessions, I'm just trying to feel comfortable, throw strikes and not get too complicated."

Pomeranz is 0-4 with an 8.10 ERA, 2.52 WHIP and 13:18 K:BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings over four starts.

Pirates pitcher Jeanmar Gomez is on track to start during Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. Gomez is 1-0 with a 2.80 ERA in eight starts this season.

"We've got a plan we want to put in place against St. Louis," manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We've got a guy in Jeanmar Gomez who's as good as any spot starter we could come up with. At this point of the season, we feel the continuity (of the regular starters) is important -- keep ‘em lined up and in a routine."

Pirates interim closer Mark Melancon picked up his third save in Monday's 4-2 win over the Nationals, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out one after the Nationals hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to cut the team's deficit in half.

Melancon's save was his first since Jason Grilli was injured earlier this week. Melancon has allowed just one earned run in 18 innings since June 4, striking out 16 and walking just two during that stretch.

Now that Jason Grilli is officially on the DL, the next move for his Fantasy owners couldn't be any clearer: Pick up Mark Melancon.

He has closing experience from his days with the Astros, but even if he didn't, his work as a setup man this year -- which earned him an All-Star nod, by the way -- makes him potentially an elite closer down the stretch. As thrilled as you've been with Grilli's production relative to what he cost you at the start of the season, you might not even notice a drop-off with Melancon. He won't strike out batters at the same rate as Grilli, but with a 0.95 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, he won't introduce much drama to the Pirates' late-season playoff run.

Plus, by adding him, you assure yourself the Pirates closer whether Grilli ends up missing the rest of the season or not.

Frankly, anyone who could stand to upgrade at relief pitcher should add Melancon. It's a must for Grilli owners since they obviously lost something at the position, but if Grilli's injury ends up being as serious as some anticipate, Melancon will be the biggest addition to the closer pool since Koji Uehara.

Mets starting pitcher Carlos Torres is an ideal proceed-with-caution player. While he has been a great addition to the Mets' pitching staff, Torres even admitted after Tuesday's 4-1 win against the Braves he "really wasn't sharp," despite allowing one run in six innings.

The numbers support Torres' claim. The only run allowed came on a home run. He allowed eight other batters to reach base and stranded them all. He even had a 83.3 percent strand rate, per FanGraphs.com, in his previous start against the Pirates. The league average for starters is 72.3 percent, so putting runners on base should eventually catch up to Torres.

Also, how much stock can you really put in a 30-year-old journeyman pitcher? Honestly, Torres didn't have bad numbers in the minors, especially at Double-A and Triple-A. He was 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.23 WHIP at Double-A and 30-20 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.27 WHIP at Triple-A. But he struggled in three previous stints in the majors, which is why he spent so much time in the minors.

There's little harm in adding Torres in deeper formats, especially where he has RP eligibility. He's just not worth a major investment.

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller (10-6) turned in a dominant performance as he picked up his 10th win of the season Tuesday night against the Phillies. The right-hander yielded three hits and one walk while striking out six over six innings pitched in a 4-1 victory.

Miller has yet to lose a decision in July and has allowed only five runs combined over his last three starts (17 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday at Atlanta. He is 4-4 with a 4.07 ERA in nine starts away from home this season.

After trading Francisco Rodriguez to the Orioles, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told reporters that Jim Henderson and John Axford will "flip-flop" as the team's closer for the time being. Henderson has 10 saves and a 2.21 ERA, while Axford owns a 3.46 ERA and a 0.42 WHIP this season.