MLB Player News

As the Mets' top pitching prospect, Zack Wheeler has deservedly garnered nearly all of the attention at Triple-A Las Vegas this season. However, Collin McHugh has also stood out for the 51s and is trying to work past the sour impression he left during his major-league debut a year ago.

The 25-year-old righty, who went 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA in eight games (four starts) with New York late last season, recorded his third win Sunday against Albuquerque (Dodgers). He permitted a run and six hits over seven innings -- the third time in the past four outings he has worked seven innings -- to shave his ERA to a solid 2.74 in the Pacific Coast League, notoriously regarded as a hitter's league.

"Honestly it's just keeping the ball down, keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate," McHugh told MLB.com. "You're going to give up your fair share of dinks and dunks in this league, some fly balls are going to get out, some are going to end up being doubles to the wall. That's what I've been trying to do. I'm not trying to overpower guys, I'm not trying to change what I do."

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, threw three innings in a simulated game Saturday at Salt Rivers Field, MLB.com reports.

Hudson remains on track to return around the All-Star break, according to the report.

Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez was forced to leave Sunday's game after five innings with left calf tightness, the club announced.

Gomez allowed a run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in his five innings. It's unlikely his injury will keep him out for an extended period.

While Shelby Miller and Adam Wainwright both fell just short of throwing no-hitters Friday and Saturday, respectively, the two did help the Cardinals make some history.

Miller and Wainwright combined to retire 40 straight Rockies hitters between the two of them, which tied the streak the Rangers set against the Tigers back in 1996, according to the Ellias Sports Bureau.

Miller got things started by retiring 27 batters after allowing a leadoff single Friday night and Wainwright continued the steak Saturday, retiring the first 13 batters he faced before issuing a one-out walk to Todd Helton in the fifth inning.

In addition to retiring 40 consecutive batters, St. Louis also held the Rockies hitless over a span of 50 batters between Eric Young's single Friday and Nolan Arenado's hit Saturday.

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.