MLB Player News

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller continued his scoreless run in his outing against the Mets on Wednesday night. After throwing a one-hit shutout his last time out, he worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up four hits while striking out six.

The right-hander retired the first two batters to extend his streak to 29 consecutive batters, dating back to his previous outing before David Wright hit a single. He was pulled with two out in the sixth after throwing 96 pitches, 65 for strikes, and left in line for the win. But the bullpen was unable to hold on and Miller ended up with a no-decision.

The 22-year-old also struck out six and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.40.

Miller is scheduled to take the mound next on Monday against the Padres.

Brewers reliever John Axford gave up another run in his appearance on Tuesday night against the Pirates and suffered his third blown save. The right-hander has a 9.20 ERA through 14 2/3 innings pitched.

"I definitely am frustrated," Axford told MLB.com on Wednesday. "I can't lie about that, but I feel strong, I feel good and that's where I've got to keep building off of. The first four games of this season, that wasn't me, and that's something I can get a wash too and brush that away. I felt different; my mechanics weren't quite right."

Manager Ron Roenicke said he has been confused by Axford's struggles thus far.

"I don't know; it's hard to figure out," Roenicke stated. "We still have confidence in him, and nothing seems to go right. So we'll see."

Between Brandon League's struggles and Kenley Jansen's successful conversion of a save opportunity Tuesday, the Dodgers officially have a closer controversy. With manager Don Mattingly's decision to use Jansen even though League was available, Fantasy owners have more reason to doubt the skipper's commitment to keeping League in the ninth-inning role.

When League appeared to be uncontested as the closer, Fantasy owners were taking a risk in rostering Jansen, even though he has a decidedly better statistical profile for the job. Now that there is even a sliver of doubt around League's status, it's time to pounce on Jansen in the many leagues where he is still on waivers. Given a chance to close out games, Jansen is highly likely to pitch so well that Mattingly won't put him back in a setup role.

With regular save opportunities, Jansen would be an across-the-board contributor (aside from wins) who would rank among the top three closers in Fantasy for the rest of the season.

A day after backing the struggling Brandon League as his closer, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly turned to Kenley Jansen for the one-out save Tuesday against the Nationals, prompting the question has Mattingly made a change at closer?

"We’ll see," Mattingly said, per the Los Angeles Times. "I don’t know if I really have to set roles. We always talk about where we’re at in the lineup. I know we like to create controversies and all that. Honestly, I prefer having roles where everybody knows where they’re at. But tonight I felt like Kenley was the best shot of getting that guy out."

Jansen said he's fine with whatever role Mattingly wants him to fill.

"Honestly, it don’t matter," Jansen said. "Whenever the [bullpen] phone rings for me, it’s time to work. Go out there and help the team win, that’s all that’s on my mind. I don’t watch the roles. That’s for Donnie and the front office to deal with."

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen faced just one batter on Tuesday night against the Nationals. He came on in the ninth inning with one on, two out and a two-run lead. The right-hander got Tyler Moore to strike out swinging to strand the runner and secure the 2-0 win.

It was Jansen's second save of 2013.

The Mets promoted reliever Josh Edgin to Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday, ESPN reports.

Edgin carried a 7.88 ERA through five relief appearance at Double-A Binghamton. He allowed 10 hits and walked five while striking out 10 in eight innings of work out of the bullpen.

The Mets have called up pitcher Collin McHugh from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to Tuesday's game against the Cardinals.

McHugh went 3-2 with a 2.74 ERA as a starter at Triple-A, but will be used a reliever in the majors. He threw 102 pitches Sunday and will not be available to pitch Tuesday night, according to ESPN.

Cardinals' starters have gone deeper into games this year, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The rotation is a averaging 101.5 pitches per start. No other National League rotation has averaged over 100 pitches per start. The team's rotation has the second best FIP in baseball, with a 2.81 mark. The high pitch counts may be a result of the team's success in the rotation. It also shows the Cardinals are willing to let their starters go deeper in games if they are experiencing success. The team has already seen Adam Wainwright and Shelby Miller turn in complete games.

It's impossible to accurately predict complete games or shutouts for Fantasy purposes, but it's encouraging to know the Cardinals will let their starters throw a higher workload if things are going well.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Daniel Hudson, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, is expected to throw 50-55 pitches when he throws in an extended spring game Friday, according to The Arizona Republic. Hudson threw 46 pitches in a simulated game Saturday.

Hudson is projected to be out until the All-Star break in July, but the paper suggests Hudson might be back before the end of June.

Rockies starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz is off to a stellar start in 2013 for Triple-A Colorado Springs. The 2010 first-round pick is 5-0 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through seven starts.

Pomeranz has struck out 44 batters, walked 14 and has allowed three home runs through 39 2/3 innings.

"Drew has done a great job developing his changeup," Colorado Springs pitching coach Dave Schuler said, per The Denver Post. "When he pitches in the big leagues, he'll face mostly right-handed hitters, and for a left-handed pitcher, a change up is very important. He definitely has the pitches to be in the big leagues."

Pomeranz has struggled in his first two stints in the major leagues. He's 4-10 with a 5.01 ERA through 26 starts, but the Rockies are far from giving up on the left-handed hurler. Rockies director of player development Jeff Bridich said Pomeranz's struggles were because he was "rushed to the major leagues." Even Colorado Springs manager Glenallen Hill, who was a Rockies coach the last two years, sees a more confident pitcher this year.

"This year Drew has a clear understanding of who he is and where he wants to go," Hill said. "He's learned that he doesn't have to force anything."