MLB Player News

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman held the Pirates scoreless in the ninth inning Monday to pick up his 18th save of the season. He walked one and allowed no hits while striking out two.

Chapman has converted 90 percent of his save opportunites while posting a 2.03 ERA and 54:13 K:BB ratio in 31 innings.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel struck out two and pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 19th save in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Giants.

Kimbrel has not surrendered a run since he blew a save May 7. He has 16 strikeouts and four walks in his 12 innings since. His ERA has gone from 3.38 to 1.71 over that span. 

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen suffered his second blown save of the season Saturday afternoon against the Pirates.

Jansen allowed a solo home run to Travis Snider to send the game to extras. He surrendered the run on a hit while striking out one in an inning of a 5-3 win. He has allowed one run in his last 12 appearances. He has a 2.57 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.

Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second win Sunday afternoon against the Giants.

Kimbrel (2-1) has pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings. He has 18 saves along with a 1.78 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 26 appearances.

The Mets designated pitcher Collin McHugh for assignment Saturday. McHugh went 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Las Vegas. He was 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA in three appearances (one start) in the majors.

The Mets promoted right-handed pitcher Carlos Torres from Triple-A Las Vegas Saturday, ESPN reports.

The 30-year-old exercised an out in his contract Friday and the Mets had 48 hours to promote or release him. He will pitch out of the bullpen.

Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters Friday he doesn't plan to use closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning. The Reds currently have two set-up men -- Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall -- dealing with injuries.

"I'm not going to use Chapman in the eighth," Baker told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's too early. Something happens to Chapman, you're stuck with the people everybody wants you to stay away from. The days of the eighth-, ninth-inning closers ... That's kind of is by the wayside."

Chapman struck out two and pitched a perfect ninth inning in Friday's extra-inning game against the Brewers.

The Padres optioned reliever Tommy Layne to Triple-A Tucson Friday. Layne did not allow a run in 3 1/3 innings pitched in his most recent stint in the majors. He owns a 3.79 ERA in 20 appearances at Triple-A.

The Mets have promoted highly touted prospect Rafael Montero to Triple-A, ESPN New York reports. Montero owns a brilliant 2.45 ERA and 77:11 K:BB over 12 starts (73 1/33 innings). The 22-year-old ranked as the Mets' fifth-best prospect according to Baseball America heading into the year, and his brilliant start has done nothing but raise his stock.

Pirates pitcher Jeanmar Gomez surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out three in three innings in his first rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis Thursday, throwing 64 pitches (36 strikes).

Gomez is on the disabled list while recovering from a right forearm strain. He's 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA in 12 appearances (seven starts) this season.