MLB Player News

Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen pitched well Saturday, as he took down the Cubs 7-2 for his first career win.

Treinen tossed five innings, but was pitching well enough to go deeper if not for a 55-minute rain delay. He was charged with two runs on four hits and a walk over his five innings, while striking out three batters and throwing 54 of 78 pitches for strikes.

Treinen had been 0-3 in his first eight appearances prior to Saturday's game, despite having a 2.29 ERA overall. He was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse after the start. 

The Phillies optioned reliever Luis Garcia to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Saturday, after serving as the 26th man on the roster for the team's doubleheader.

Garcia has allowed eight runs in 5 2/3 innings in the majors, on eight hits and eight walks. 

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller will make his start Sunday against the Dodgers, after leaving his last outing with a back injury, MLB.com reports.

Miller will take the mound as scheduled, however the team is expected to recall a pitcher up to possibly piggyback Miller, if he can't pitch too deep into the game. 

Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen has been called up for Saturday's start against the Cubs.

The move was expected as Treinen was named the team's starter a few days ago. Treinen has a 2.08 ERA over 30 1/3 innings in the majors. 

Phillies reliever Luis Garcia has been called up Saturday.

Garcia has been dominant in the minors, posting a 0.38 ERA over 23 2/3 innings. He's already been up with the major-league club, and pitched in three games. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel saved his 23rd game of the season Friday, in a 4-2 win over the Phillies.

Kimbrel allowed one walk, but retired the side without trouble anyways. He struck out two batters and closed out the game on 16 pitches.

Kimbrel has already matched his career high with four blown saves, though he still ranks fourth in the National League with 23 saves. He has a 2.30 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings of work. 

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was called on to get Johnny Cueto out of a jam late Friday, in a 6-2 win over the Giants.

Chapman entered the game with one out in the ninth and runners on first and second, but was able to extricate himself from the problem quickly. He retired the first batter on a fielder's choice, and then ended the game with a strikeout, for his 16th save of the season.

Chapman needed just nine pitches to end the game, a good sign as he was working for the third straight day. He is now 16 for 17 on save chances, with a 2.38 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. 

The Cardinals are cautiously optimistic that Shelby Miller will be able to return to the mound Sunday against the Dodgers, but a final decision will likely wait until Saturday.

Miller tossed a bullpen session Friday in Los Angeles, and did not report any issues with the back injury that forced him out of his last outing. Still, the injury is not completely gone, which is why manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com he will wait to see how Miller responds Saturday before confirming him for the start Sunday.

"We've been very optimistic as to how he's progressing, but we'll continue to watch," Matheny said. "We're going to need him to feel pretty good in order to move in the direction that we're going to be able to have him start. We'll just see what he says, see how that's interpreted by the medical team, and then make a decision."

Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly tossed 41 pitches in his first minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis Friday.

Kelly threw 21 of those pitches for strikes across his two-inning start, as he begins to work his way back from a hamstring injury. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks,w hile striking out three batters in the game.

He will likely need multiple outings, as he has not pitched since mid-April. Kelly told the Memphis Commercial appeal (via MLB.com) that he did not feel the injury while pitching, but admitted his stamina is not where he wants it to be.

"Grade it about a 'C'," he said. "I could pass for those two innings. Wasn't where I wanted it to be."

Pirates closer Mark Melancon bounced back from a pair of subpar outings with an easy ninth inning Thursday, in a 5-2 win over the Mets.

Melancon retired the Mets' hitters in order on just seven pitches, though he did not strike out a single batter for the second straight appearance. He is now 14 for 17 on save chances, with a 2.41 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 37 1/3 innings.