MLB Player News

Mets manager Terry Collins hinted Sunday at a bigger role for reliever Carlos Torres, who has impressed since his promotion from the minors. Torres has posted a 1.00 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in six relief appearances, while striking out nine batters in nine innings.

"We certainly have to take a look at it. Nobody's been more shocked when he walks a guy than I am, because he's a strike-throwing machine," Collins said, per MLB.com. "I think we've got to take a look at it."

While Collins said he might start using Torres later in games, he added he also could turn to Torres as a spot starter.

"I don't want his innings to be one at a time," Collins said. "He needs to be lengthened out, because if we need a guy, he's it."

Pitcher Drew Pomeranz will take the mound as the starter for the Rockies' game against the Giants Sunday. He gets the call after going 8-1 with a 4.20 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Pomeranz has made one career start against the Giants, allowing four earned runs in four innings while striking out three in a loss on Aug. 11, 2012.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen blew his third save but was fortunate to pick up his second win of the season Saturday night against the Phillies.

Jansen allowed a run to score on a throwing error by Matt Kemp in the ninth inning. The offense saved him in the bottom of the frame as A.J. Ellis hit a walkoff single to win the game for the Dodgers. The right-hander permitted one run on two hits while striking out one in one inning of work in a 4-3 win.  

Jansen has permitted two runs over his last seven innings. He has a 2.41 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over 41 appearances.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman collected his 20th save of the season Saturday night against the Rangers.

Chapman worked his way around a walk as he struck out one and pitched a scoreless 11th inning to preserve a 4-3 win. It was his first scoreless outing since June 19. The right-hander has converted 20 of 23 save chances and owns a 2.65 ERA through 37 appearances.

Rockies reliever Matt Belisle has been struggling, but he adamantly insists he's not injured, the Denver Post reports. Belisle served up a game-winning, two-run home run in the eighth inning Thursday to Marlon Byrd of the Mets. 

His ERA has soared to 9.26 over 11 June appearances with that outing. He has a 16.20 ERA over his last 6 2/3 innings of work. What is more, the 33-year-old has seen a dip in velocity. 

"I'm as healthy as I've ever been," he said Friday. "Give me the ball, no questions asked."

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly was called upon in the second inning of Friday's game against the A's and pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out four.

Kelly was called on in the same situation in his last appearance last Friday against the Rangers and delivered five scoreless innings, giving him 10 1/3 innings with just one earned run allowed in his last two relief appearances. He entered that game with a 5.00 ERA that has dropped to 3.86 after Friday's impressive performance.

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller threw 51 pitches in the second inning of Friday's start against the A's before being pulled, giving up five earned runs on six hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss and drop to 8-6.

Miller, who did not strike out a batter in the team's 6-1 loss Friday, pitched at least five full innings in each of his 15 starts before Friday's rough outing. He takes a 2.79 ERA into next week's start against the Angels.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel walked one batter but was able to work around it for his 23rd save of the season Friday against the Diamondbacks. Kimbrel retired the rest of order in the ninth with three groundballs, needing just 14 pitches to finish off a 3-0 win.

Kimbrel has 23 strikeouts in 26 chances, with a 1.48 ERA. Since his last blown save early in May, Kimbrel has tossed 17 straight scoreless innings. 

The Cubs transferred pitcher Zach Putnam to the 60-day disabled list Friday. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 12 with a bone spur in his elbow.

The Padres have optioned Tommy Layne to Triple-A Tucson, MLB.com reports. Layne has been successful, with a 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3 innings in relief, but the club opted for the right-handed arm in Burch Smith for now. Expect Layne to bounce between the minors and majors this year.