MLB Player News

Padres reliever Brad Boxberger was optioned to Triple-A Tucson Saturday, making room on the active roster for starter Burch Smith.

Boxberger made two scoreless appearances for the Padres, tossing 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. 

For a franchise that has never had a perfect game, Shelby Miller's start Friday was about as close as they have ever come. And at least by one metric, his one-hit complete game Friday was the best outing in Cardinals history.

Miller's 98 game score, a stat sabermetrician Bill James came up with to quantify pitcher performance in a given outing, is the highest in franchise history in a nine-inning game according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Manager Mike Matheny said he received a number of phone calls about Miller's start, praising his 22-year-old's masterpiece.

"That was something many of us may never see. Very, very impressive," Matheny said. "The more you think about it the more you respect what he pulled off. That was almost like a no-hitter."

Miller struck out 13 batters and walked none, while retiring 27 straight batters after allowing a leadoff single.

With Heath Bell having pitched in the last three games, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson rolled with David Hernandez for the final three outs of Friday's win against the Phillies.

Hernandez, who entered the game in the ninth with a one-run lead, allowed the first two batters on base. He worked his way out of the jam and needed just 14 pitches to secure a 3-2 win and his first save of the season.

Hernandez has a 3.57 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP through his first 17 2/3 innings.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman notched his eighth save Friday night against the Brewers. Chapman came on in the ninth inning and was quickly able to retire the first two batters he faced.

He did give up a two-out single to Norichika Aoki, who would eventually come around to score after Chapman threw a pair of wild pitches. However, the left-hander was able to settle down and strike out Jean Segura swinging to end the game.

Chapman is 8 for 8 in save chances and racked up 23 strikeouts over 16 innings compared to six walks. 

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller tossed a one-hit shutout Friday night against the Rockies. Miller, who made his seventh start, gave up a leadoff single to Eric Young to start the game but then went on to retire the next 27 batters he faced.

The right-hander did not issue a walk and struckout a career-best 13 batters, tying the Cardinals' rookie record for most Ks in the game.

Miller needed 113 pitches to register his first career complete game and has posted a 1.39 ERA, which is the lowest for a Cardinals pitcher in his first eight starts since Howie Pollet had a 2.09 ERA in his first eight in 1941.

Miller has allowed three runs of less in each of his seven starts while racking up 51 strikeouts compared to just 11 walks. He is slated to face the Mets at home Wednesday.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel bounced back from his third blown save in five tries, as he tossed a scoreless ninth to close out the Giants Thursday. Kimbrel allowed a ground-rule double with two outs, but picked up three weak groundball outs otherwise to close out a 6-3 win.

Kimbrel lowered his ERA to 3.14 while saving his 11th game in 14 tries. This was his 100th career save in 114 opportunities. 

The Dodgers considered making a change in the ninth inning after Brandon League took his second straight loss on Tuesday, but the club is sticking with the right-hander as its closer, MLB.com reports.

"Obviously I can't say I haven't given thought to it," Mattingly said before Wednesday's game against Arizona. "The games that Brandon has given up runs have been games he wasn't necessarily closing. But Kenley is throwing the ball good. I've given thought to it."

Mattingly added that he could still move Kenley Jansen into the closer's role.

"I'm just still thinking about it," Mattingly said. "We still talk about it and go back and forth. It's like anything else -- all of a sudden we flip it and then we got a mess. Not that we're not in a mess already a little bit. But Brandon is actually throwing the ball OK. He's not walking a bunch of people. In save situations, he's been really good."

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson told MLB.com on Wednesday that Heath Bell will receive the first shot at closing games with J.J. Putz on the disabled list. David Hernandez will remain in his current role as setup man.

"I just think Heath's got more experience at closer right now, and if we move Heath and David right now we're really moving the whole bullpen," Gibson said. "It just seems like it's less disruptive."

Despite blowing away hitters over the past few seasons with overpowering stuff, David Hernandez is still waiting for his chance. The Diamondbacks appear keen on prioritizing experience at the back end of the bullpen, and all signs appear to indicate that former All-Star Heath Bell, and not Hernandez, will get the call for save opportunities with J.J. Putz on the disabled list.

For Fantasy owners who have been making Hernandez a target of speculative pickups, this is bad news, but it is by no means a death knell for his long-term value. I definitely would not run out to grab Hernandez right now, but Bell is unlikely to get much of a leash, given his dreadful season with the Marlins a year ago.

Hernandez clearly has the most upside out of the Diamondbacks' relief options if he can get some save chances, so Fantasy owners should continue to keep a close eye on the situation. If Bell looks shaky in the ninth inning, I would definitely take a look at Hernandez. He has averaged 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings in his last three seasons, with a 3.05 ERA.  

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel took his third blown save in his last five appearances Tuesday against the Reds. On Wednesday, manager Fredi Gonzalez showed no concern over Kimbrel's recent struggles.

"It is what it is," Gonzalez said, per MLB.com. "At the end of the year, [Kimbrel's] going to have 40-something saves and five blown saves or four blown saves. It just so happens he's getting them right here in a little bunch. No worries."

After recording eight saves and posting a 0.00 ERA in his first nine outings, Kimbrel has a 9.64 ERA, two saves and three blown saves in 4 2/3 innings since April 24.

"We probably won't [use him Wednesday]," Gonzalez said, "but yeah, if we've got a save situation [Thursday], we run him back out there, of course."