MLB Player News

Staked to a one-run lead in the ninth inning, Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen was able to close the door on a 9-8 victory over the Rockies on Tuesday.

Jansen gave up one hit during the inning and struck out two. He is a perfect 5 for 5 in save chances and he has not surrendered a run this season. 

Mets manager Terry Collins said Tuesday that pitcher Vic Black will not come off the disabled list during the team's current road trip, reports ESPNNewYork.com.

Black has been on the disabled list with a shoulder and neck injury. He has not pitched this season. The team's current road trip will conclude Sunday at Arizona.

Black tossed a scoreless inning with one strike out during Tuesday's rehab game for the team's Double-A club. 

Rockies closer John Axford notched his tenth save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers in the first game of a doubleheader. 

Axford allowed a hit and struck out one, to protect a three run lead. He lowered his ERA to 0.60. 

The Dodgers announced they promoted pitchers Daniel Coulombe and Josh Ravin on Tuesday.

Both pitchers will be available for Tuesday's Game 2 matchup at Colorado. Coulombe has a 9.00 ERA in one inning this season, while Ravin has never pitched in the majors. 

Before he's able to re-join his major-league club, the Diamondbacks want to see how right-handed pitcher David Hernandez responds after back-to-back rehab games, according to FOX Sports Arizona.  

Hernandez is still recovering from an elbow injury and hasn't pitched for Arizona this season. Making matters worse, games at Double-A Mobile, where Hernandez is doing his rehab assignment, have been rained out Monday and Tuesday. 

There was some optimism that Hernandez could return to the Diamondbacks late last week but that hope appears to have been postponed. 

Pirates closer Mark Melancon picked up his 14th save of the season in Monday night's 4-3 win over the Giants. 

Melancon entered the game in the ninth inning and didn't allow a hit. He struck out one batter and got his other two via groundout. Melancon now has a 2.63 ERA for the season. Melancon has now converted his fifth consecutive save opportunity. 

Brewers reliever Will Smith said he hopes to have a resolution regarding the appeal of his eight-game suspension by Friday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Smith said he spent an hour appealing his case with his agent to an MLB rep on Monday. He felt he presented a good case. 

Smith also indicated Brian Matusz's appeal needed to be heard before he could get a ruling. Matusz is set to have his appeal heard Wednesday.

Both players were recently handed eight-game suspensions for having a foreign substance found on their arms during outings in late May.

The Rockies recalled reliever Tommy Kahnle  from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday, the club announced. 

"It's nice to be back," Kahnle said, per MLB.com. "That's what I've been working for."

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 17 relief outings for Albuquerque. He also has four saves, 26 strikeouts and eight walks in 22 innings.

The Nationals recalled reliever Felipe Rivero from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. To clear a roster spot, the Nationals optioned reliever Matt Grace to Syracuse.

Rockies closer John Axford has managed to shake off some of the issues from last season and become an effective ninth-inning man, according to MLB.com.

"He can strike guys out -- swing-and-miss stuff," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He's got velocity that can beat the bat, even when they're hunting the fastball. There's a reason why he's saved a lot of games in this league and led the league in saves not too long ago [with 46 in 2011 with the Brewers]."

Axford took over for LaTroy Hawkins and Adam Ottavino early in the year and is perfect in nine appearances. He has a 0.64 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 14 innings of work this season.

"I was leaving my arm dragging behind, which is an issue I've had in the past, but at least it was easy for me to correct, on the next pitch," Axford said. "In years prior, that lingering may have still been there. I didn't really change my mechanics in the spring, but worked on different things to eliminate the arm staying back there too long."