MLB Player News

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

Melancon had a two-run cushion in the ninth and allowed a leadoff home run to Odubel Herrera. He then recorded three outs in the next four betters to preserve the win for the Pirates. 

By giving up a home run, Melancon snapped an eight-game streak of not allowing an earned run in a game. Even so, it's his third consecutive appearance that he's been able to record a save. 

Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen is expecting to be activated on Saturday, Jansen said per the L.A. Times. Jansen, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a foot injury, is also expected to throw on his rehab assignment one more time on Wednesday.

Jansen won't immediately earn back his role as the team's closer, but is on board with manager Don Mattingly's plan for the bullpen.

Mets right-hander Rafael Montero is on a slow recovery with his rotator cuff injury, according to ESPN New York. 

Montero is still experiencing some pain in his shoulder. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to right rotator cuff inflammation. For the season, Montero has a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings pitched. 

Mets pitcher Vic Black was able to throw a bullpen session on Monday as a part of his rehab from a shoulder and neck injury, according to ESPN.com.

Its the first time he's been able to throw a bullpen session since suffering a herniated disk in his neck. Black is expected to throw a second bullpen session on Thursday. He posted a 2-3 record with a 2.60 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings of work in 2014.

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson made his first start since June 2012, giving up no runs on two hits and struck out five in 3 1/3 innings Sunday for a no-decision. 

Hudson, 28, underwent two Tommy John surgeries and returned to make 12 relief appearances in 2014 and 2015 before Sunday's start.

"To get the adrenaline going before the game for a big league baseball game was pretty special," Hudson said.

Hudson allowed just a single through the first three innings before loading the bases in the fourth and getting pulled. 

"We talk about that a lot, what his future is and we've really tried to not get too far out in the future and just keep him healthy," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He could be a starter next year, he could be a setup man, he could be a closer. As long as he is healthy and feels strong going into next season, I think we can decide on that with his input, of course."

Hudson's next scheduled start has not been announced as of Sunday night.

Padres closer Craig Kimbrel is eager to get back on the mound after Saturday's blown save in Arizona, according to U-T San Diego. The blown save ended Kimbrel's streak of 35 consecutive saves, the longest streak in the majors.

"Obviously, I want to convert every opportunity I get," Kimbrel said a day after allowing two runs in the ninth inning of a game the Padres won in the 12th. "The thing now is to start a new one. I'm disappointed any time I give up runs, but the team won yesterday and that's all that really matters. …"

Kimbrel blames his execution of pitches at the end of games.

"My stuff's good,” said Kimbrel. "I've just run into some situations where I haven't executed pitches. That's what it came down to. Last night, I felt like my stuff was really good. I just didn't execute. It doesn't matter how well your stuff is working if you don't execute a pitch."

Dodgers pitcher Kenley Jansen lasted 2/3 of an inning for Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, allowing one single and adding a strikeout. Jansen, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a foot injury, threw 13 pitches in the appearance after throwing 12 in his outing on Saturday.

Los Angeles may get the reliever back in the next couple of weeks.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman suffered a loss Sunday, allowing one earned run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning while striking out one in his team's 4-3 defaet against the White Sox.

Chapman (1-1) was able to get two quick outs after his team tied the game in the top of the ninth, but the White Sox strung together three straight two-out hits to pull out the win. It was the first run allowed this season by Chapman, who has a 0.68 ERA and 23:6 K:BB ratio in 13 1/3 innings.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon gave up a pair of hits Sunday but pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his seventh save.

Melancon opened the ninth by allowing a single then surrendered a one-out infield single to put the winning run on base. He followed it up with a strikeout and groundout to end the game. Melancon owns a 3.77 ERA and 9:4 K:BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings. He hasn't given up an earned run in eight straight appearances.

"It was good to see [Melancon] finish things off," manager Clint Hurdle said to MLB.com. "It's a vote of confidence for the team. They believe in him, and when he goes out there to get things done, he's got to feel better about how things finish.

"He's incrementally getting a little bit better every time out."

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson will start Sunday's game against the Padres.

The Diamondbacks rotation was thrown out of schedule after a postponement Tuesday led to a doubleheader Wednesday, and the team had yet to name a starter for Sunday's game.

Hudson will be making his first start since going 3-2 with a 7.35 ERA in nine starts during the 2012 season. He owns a 6.17 ERA and 7:3 K:BB ratio in 11 2/3 innings out of the bullpen this season.

The Diamondbacks are home underdogs (+116) against the Padres Sunday.