MLB Player News

Marlins pitcher Brad Hand (ankle) is slated to come off the disabled list and start Thursday's game against the Phillies. Hand is 0-1 with an 11.37 ERA in two starts this season.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth inning Tuesday to pick up his 26th save in his team's 5-4 win over the Mets.

Kimbrel's strikeout-strikeout-strikeout appearance, which may as well be called a "Kimbrel," was his first since accomplishing the feat on June 10. He owns a 2.10 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings.

Cubs pitcher Pedro Strop earned his first win of the year Tuesday after tossing a 1-2-3 eighth inning in his team's 2-1 win over the Red Sox.

Strop (1-3) needed just nine pitches to retire the Red Sox in order before his offense came through with the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning. He's strung together 11 scoreless outings to lower his ERA to 2.93 to go along with a 30:!5 K:BB ratio in 27 2/3 innings.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen secured his 25th save Monday, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out his team's 1-0 win over the Indians.

Jansen failed to record a strikeout for the first time in five appearances, but he has held the opposition to two hits and no walks in five scoreless innings during that stretch while striking out seven. He owns a 3.89 ERA and 56:11 K:BB ratio in 34 2/3 innings.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel locked down his 25th save Monday, striking out one during a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off his team's 5-3 win over the Mets.

It was the first time in six outings Kimbrel faced the minimum amount of batters, throwing eight of his 13 pitches for strikes. He owns a 2.16 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB ratio in 33 1/3 innings.

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller struggled in a loss Sunday, giving up six earned runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings while striking out four in his team's 6-0 defeat against the Dodgers.

Miller (7-7) put together three scoreless innings before the Dodgers scored two in the fourth. After they added another in the fifth, the Cardinals starter surrendered a three-run home run later in the fifth, putting the final nail in the coffin of the ugly performance. He owns a 4.10 ERA and 70:49 K:BB ratio in 98 2/3 innings. Miller is in line to face the Marlins Saturday.

Pirates closer Mark Melancon was called on for a one-out save during a 5-2 win Sunday against the Mets.

Melancon entered the game after Jared Hughes allowed New York to plate two runs in the ninth inning. Melancon inherited one runner, who reached third after Daniel Murphy's two-out single off Melancon. Murphy moved up to second base on a fielder's indifference before Curtis Granderson flied out to right field to end the game.

Melancon recorded his 15th save and second in the series. It was his fifth June save.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel surrendered two hits Sunday but pitched a scoreless ninth inning to finish off his team's 3-2 win over the Phillies.

It was an odd outing for Kimbrel, who didn't record a strikeout in the appearance for just the second time in June while giving up multiple hits for the second time this month as well. However, he was able to get the job done and put his team a half-game up in the NL East. Kimbrel owns a 2.23 ERA and 55:15 K:BB ratio in 32 1/3 innings.

The Phillies announced Sunday they optioned pitcher Luis Garcia to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The team also recalled infielder Andres Blanco from Triple-A, and to clear a spot on the 40-man roster pitcher Sean O'Sullivan was designated for assignment.

Pitching for the fourth straight day, Reds closer Aroldis Chapman took a blown save after giving up one earned run on two hits and one walk in the ninth inning and striking out one in his team's 7-3, 11-inning win against the Giants Saturday.

It was the second time in his career Chapman has pitched on four straight days, and while he didn't have trouble with his velocity, he did show a little bit of a struggle with his control. He needed 31 pitches to get through the ninth inning and will assuredly be given Sunday (and maybe Monday) off to rest. Chapman owns a 2.66 ERA and 46:8 K:BB ratio in 23 2/3 innings.