MLB Player News

Don't look now, but Dodgers closer Brandon League has allowed an earned run in four of his last six appearances. He's been the antithesis of reliable.

League entered the season as the most evident example of a closer whose setup man (Kenley Jansen) is the superior pitcher, so Fantasy owners anticipated a change at some point. So far, he has yet to put that idea to rest.

I agree with Nando Di Fino that a reliever who's already getting saves, such as Edward Mujica or Jose Valverde, deserves a roster spot over Jansen, particularly if you don't already own League, but Jansen is still as valuable as a setup man can get in Fantasy.

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen picked up his first win of the season Thursday.

Jansen pitched a scoreless eighth inning, giving up one hit and one walk. Jansen struck out two during the outing. Andre Ethier and Juan Uribe hit run-scoring singles in the ninth, giving Jansen the win. 

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told MLB.com on Wednesday that John Axford could return to the closer's role in the near future. Axford has a 9.35 ERA through 10 appearances and blew his lone save chance.

Jim Henderson has been serving as closer for Milwaukee, converting all five of his save opportunities.

"That's nothing against Henderson, he's done a great job for us pitching there," Roenicke said. "But I think with Ax, because of his breaking ball and when he's throwing it well, I think Ax has a chance to repeat that season what he had two years ago."

Roenicke added that Axford has made a minor adjustment to his throwing motion.

"It was just something small and mechanical that you carry over into playing catch, and it's something I've continued to do to make sure it feels natural on the mound," Axford said. "Right now, everything feels smooth."

Diamondbacks reliever David Hernandez blew his second save on Wednesday afternoon against the Giants but also collected his first win. He entered in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and surrendered a solo homer to Brandon Crawford.

His teammates were able to score a run in the 10th and the right-hander earned the victory in a 3-2 win.

Hernandez has a 3.38 ERA through 11 appearances.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel suffered his first blown save of the year Wednesday, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two in the ninth inning. He avoided taking the loss by extending the game into extra innings tied 5-5.

Kimbrel hadn't allowed any earned runs before the blown save and now sits with a 1.86 ERA and 14:3 K:BB ratio in 9 2/3 innings.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman worked around a hit to record his fourth save Wednesday against the Cubs.

Chapman lowered his ERA to 0.79 with the effort and has an absurd 20 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings. His WHIP sits at a sharp 0.62 despite the hit.

Mets reliever Josh Edgin had a night to forget Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Edgin, who entered the game in the eighth inning, gave up a two-run double to A.J. Ellis. He surrendered two runs and four hits in just one-third of an inning in a 7-2 defeat. Manager Terry Collins is concerned that Edgin's workload in 2012 may have taken something out of him this season.

With Shaun Marcum expected to be activated from the disabled list Saturday, Edgin could be the odd man out, according to ESPN.com.

"One of the things that I am just a little bit concerned about -- and I've seen it before, and we've mentioned it -- is a young pitcher like that, last year he got into a lot of games," Collins said. "He had a lot of appearances. He had a lot of games he warmed up and maybe didn't get in. All of those can lead to the next year just not having your arm respond right away. I've been there before where I've seen that. And I'm a little concerned that might be what we're facing here."

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel earned his eighth save in the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Rockies.

Kimbrel entered in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He struck out two and allowed a single to Wilin Rosario, who was caught stealing to end the 4-3 game.

Kimbrel has converted all eight of his save opportunities and has allowed a run through 8 2/3 innings.

Marlins reliever Ryan Webb had three scoreless innings in relief of Jose Fernandez in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Minnesota. Webb allowed a walk and a hit with a strike out.

Webb lowered his ERA from 3.72 to 2.84 and has six strikeouts in his last six innings.

Brewers pitching prospect Jimmy Nelson is no longer plagued by the shoulder problems that hindered him in 2012 and is off to a promising start for Double-A Huntsville. Nelson is 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA and .175 opponents' batting average through four starts.

"I think it was actually a blessing in disguise," Nelson said of his shoulder woes the second half of last season to MLB.com. "I learned to pitch when I didn't have my best stuff, and that has helped me. I also used my changeup a lot more, and now I have another good pitch."

Nelson, who is considered the Brewers' eighth-best prospect by MLB.com, has struck out 26 and walked five in 21 2/3 innings. He's allowed only three earned runs.

"I tried to compensate for my sore shoulder and had trouble repeating my delivery," said Nelson, who was 2-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 10 starts for Huntsville last season. "I lost my command. Now everything is working in unison again, and I don't have trouble throwing strikes.