MLB Player News

Cardinals rookie pitcher Shelby Miller was nearly flawless in his second outing of the season, allowing just a leadoff single and hitting Alex Gonzalez in the second inning before retiring the final 17 batters faced in a 2-0 win over the Brewers Friday.

Miller threw 113 pitches (87 for strikes) in the seven-inning outing, striking out eight batters to move to 2-0. He'll take a 1.74 ERA into a Wednesday start against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen was called upon to pitch the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Padres and preserved a 3-2 lead, striking out one while allowing no walks or hits to pick up his first save of the year.

Dodgers closer Brandon League threw 34 pitches the day before, so he stayed in the bullpen while Jansen shut the door.

Mark Melancon has thrown five scoreless inning for the Pirates so far and told MLB.com on Wednesday that he benefited from working with pitching coach Ray Searage and Jim Benedict, a special assistant to general manager Neal Huntington, during the spring.

"I learned more about my delivery and about pitching in general in a month of spring training than I have my whole pro career," Melancon said.

The right-hander is coming off a campaign in which he posted a 6.20 ERA in 41 appearances for the Red Sox.

"He brought awareness to some of the things in my delivery which, honestly, I haven't really yet changed," Melancon said of Benedict. "It's a work in progress, and I'm just glad I'm aware of it, so in the long run I can deal with it and be that much better."

Maybe my John Axford advice on Tuesday ("pick him up if he's dropped in your league!") was somewhat untimely, as the embattled reliever gave up three runs on two walks and a hit against the Cubs Tuesday night. But I'm sticking with the analysis and picking up the scraps as owners drop him.

Just to clarify -- I wasn't saying start him. I wasn't saying he'd be awesome immediately. I wasn't even saying I like him a lot. I was just saying that the Brewers' plan -- for all the world to see -- is to fix Axford, then reinstall him as the closer. I figured it would take a couple weeks; it may take a little longer. 

Axford is, for lack of a better comparison, the boomerang from The Legend of Zelda. And not in the corny "he will come back around" way. Yes, you may have a white sword now (even one that shoots other glowing swords from it), as well as a candle and a bomb (say, Addison Reed and Kenley Jansen) but that doesn't mean you just throw away the boomerang. You keep it in your arsenal, because it may come in handy later. If you never use it again, such is life. But there's no reason to think that something helpful early won't be helpful again. That is John Axford right now. Wholly useless, but worth hanging on to just in case. 

Diamondbacks injured hurler Daniel Hudson is expected to throw live batting practice on April 16 for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery last year, MLB.com reports. 

Hudson threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled for another Friday. If he comes through that OK, live batters are the next step. 

"He's throwing the ball real well," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. Arizona expects to have Hudson back some time after the All-Star break. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel notched save No. 4 during Tuesday's contest against the Marlins.

The right-hander entered the game in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and walked leadoff hitter Donovan Solano before settling down. He pitched a scoreless inning as he struck out one and walked one to secure a 3-2 victory.

Kimbrel, who has a 0.75 WHIP, has allowed just one hit and has yet to allow a run through his first four save opportunities.

Upon news of his demotion to middle relief on Tuesday, John Axford was unceremoniously dropped by Fantasy owners, with his ownership percentage shrinking from 93 percent to 76 percent (and this is before Tuesday night FAAB and waivers run). I may be very alone in this, but I'm sniping Axford up in most leagues where he's been shed. 

Manager Ron Roenicke said the plan is to let Axford get back in a groove and then return him to the closer's role. This isn't to say Jim Henderson isn't worth a pickup -- saves are saves, and he will get a handful while Axford works his way back -- but with all the closer uncertainty out there, it makes sense for deeper league owners to hold on to Axford, as there's even historical precedence (it happened last year) to Axford being briefly replaced by Henderson before the reins were turned back over to Axford. 

Additionally, Henderson was just a gust of wind from giving up a grand slam to Starlin Castro in Monday's game. Castro battled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded before flying out to the warning track in deep right. If the wind wasn't blowing in so hard, it would have been a home run and views on Axford and Henderson would be very different today. 

If you can afford to hold on to Axford, I would do it. He could be closing games for the Brewers by the end of the month. 

Pirates pitcher Jeanmar Gomez (1-0) hurled 1 2/3 innings of relief to record the win in Pittsburgh's 5-3 victory over Arizona Monday night. Gomez, making his first appearance since being hit in the chest by a line drive last Friday, replaced starter Wandy Rodriguez after he departed in the third inning with hamstring tightness.

The right-hander permitted one run and four hits while walking one batter and striking out none. He is now sporting a 1.93 ERA after two games this season.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel entered Monday's series opener against the Marlins in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. He issued a leadoff walk and gave up a two-out single but was able to make it through unscathed to secure the 2-0 win.

Kimbrel also struck out one to earn his third save.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke announced after Monday's win over the Cubs that John Axford is no longer the closer.

Jim Henderson, who earned the save against Chicago, will take over the job.

Roenicke told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Axford will pitch in the earlier innings until he gets back on track.

"I told (Axford) I want him to be our closer, and how we think is the best way to get him back in that role, which is pretty much what we did with him last year (in the middle of the season)," said Roenicke.

"We'll put him back in wherever it's going to be, sixth (inning), seventh, maybe eighth, and let him get his stuff back. Once he gets his stuff back, we'll put him back in that role again."

Axford has a 20.25 ERA through three appearances, surrendering four home runs in 2 2/3 innings. The right-hander also blew his lone save chance.