MLB Player News

After blowing the save his last time out, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was able to get back on track in Monday's series opener against the Reds. He entered in the ninth inning with a three-run lead and worked around two singles to make it through the unscathed.

Kimbrel struck out one while earning his 10th save in the 7-4 win.

After winning four times in April, Rockies starting pitcher prospect Drew Pomeranz struggled in his first May start for Triple-A Colorado Springs Sunday. Pomeranz was tagged for five runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings, while striking out six.

It was the second time in six starts Pomeranz allowed five or more runs, but he's allowed one or no runs four times. He's 4-0 with a 3.51 ERA and .242 opponents' batting average. He also has 40 strikeouts to 12 walks in 33 1/3 innings. His 40 strikeouts are tied for second in the Pacific Coast League with Mets' prospect Zack Wheeler.

Brewers reliever John Axford took another step back as he failed to make it out of the eighth inning Sunday afternoon against the Cardinals.

Axford gave up a single and walked the next two batters before surrendering a one-out, run-scoring single to Tony Cruz.

"Mechanically, the ball felt good coming out," Axford said. "Today was one of those days where I just didn't physically feel like myself."

The right-hander watched his ERA rise from 9.49 to 9.95 after Sunday's abysmal outing. Manager Ron Roenicke has not considered sending him down to minors to work on his mechanics, according to MLB.com.

"No, it's not [under discussion]," Roenicke said. "We feel he can get it back together. We saw him do it last year, and still feel that he can do it. … It's the same thing that he was in [last season], whether it's confidence, whether it's mechanical. If it's mechanical, Rick [Kranitz, the pitching coach] and Lee [Tunnell, the bullpen coach] will figure it out."

Reds reliever J.J. Hoover collected his second save of the season during Sunday's series finale against the Cubs.

Hoover stepped up for Aroldis Chapman, who was unavailable. He needed 28 pitches as he worked his way around a base hit to secure a 7-4 victory.

Hoover has a 3.07 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP through 15 appearances.

Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman (2-1) bounced back from his worst outing of the season and fired a scoreless ninth inning during Cincinnati's 6-4 win over the Cubs on Saturday. Chapman, who earned his seventh save, worked around a one-out walk by Alfonso Soriano one day after he gave up three runs in a non-save opportunity.

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller picked up his fourth win Friday against the Brewers. Miller, who made his sixth start, allowed one run on seven hits over six innings in the 6-1 win.

The lone run he surrendered came on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jonathan Lucroy in the sixth.

The right-hander was pulled after throwing 106 pitches -- 69 strikes -- and finished with five strikeouts and one walk. He is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA over his two starts against Milwaukee.

Miller, who has recorded a quality start in three of his last four outings, is slated to face the Rockies at home May 10. He is 1-1 with a 1.31 ERA in four career appearances -- three starts -- at Busch Stadium.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel suffered his second blown save of the year Friday night after surrendering a game-tying home run to David Wright in the ninth inning. He struck out the other three batters he faced, giving Kimbrel 18 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings this season.

Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman (2-1) gave up three runs and four hits before being pulled with two outs in the ninth inning during Cincinnati's 6-5 escape over the Cubs Friday. Chapman, who has recorded a save in each of his past three appearances, was replaced by J.J. Hoover for the final out as his ERA spilled over 2.00 for the first time this season (2.57).

The hard-throwing lefty allowed three straight singles to open the inning before collecting two quick outs, including one via strikeout. He walked two batters, including one to score a run, and left with the bases loaded.

It was just the fourth time in his career Chapman permitted more than three runs in an outing. Last season, he did not allow his fourth run of the season until June 13, but he's surrendered that total in 15 games this year.

After Reds closer Aroldis Chapman struggled to preserve a four-run lead in the ninth inning, J.J. Hoover was called on to record the final out during Cincinnati's 6-5 victory over the Cubs Friday. Hoover struck out the only batter he faced -- Darwin Barney -- to register just his second career save in 42 total appearances.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke will be playing matchups in the eighth inning rather than using one set option moving forward after John Axford picked up his third loss of the season Wednesday.

"Whether it's the seventh, eighth [for Axford], I don't know for sure," Roenicke told MLB.com. "It's probably easier on us, when we're looking at lineups, to do it that way. I know the players want to be in a role, but sometimes those hitters don't match up with what you're putting out there."

Axford has allowed 13 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings this year.