MLB Player News

While Shelby Miller's complete game shutout Saturday at Toronto was just his second quality start in his last five, it was the fifth in five in which he was generally in the strike zone. He has issued seven walks during that stretch after issuing 27 in his first eight starts.

The improved control has for the most part coincided with a change in arsenal. About one-third of the way through last season -- which is basically when things went sour for him -- he stopped throwing his curveball so much and eventually added a cutter to his repertoire.

Five starts ago, he began featuring his curveball more. His control improved, and he no longer seemed like a lost cause. In Saturday's start, he didn't feature his curveball as much, but his pitch selection was still vastly different from earlier this season, which shows flexibility. That's a big deal for pitcher who has repeatedly gotten in trouble for shaking off the catcher too much in the past.

If nothing else, it's a change for Miller, and a change that yields results is probably a change for the better. Nobody questions his talent, so coming off his best start of the year, he probably needs to be owned in all Fantasy leagues.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop was charged with a blown save and the loss Sunday afternoon against the Marlins.

Strop surrendered a sacrifice fly and allowed another run to score on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. He was charged with two earned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two over one inning of a 4-3 defeat. He owns a 4.58 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 17 2/3 innings of relief.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman turned in an impressive performance Sunday against the Phillies.

Chapman came on with a three-run lead in the ninth inning. He didn't disappoint, striking out the side on 16 pitches. Chapman now has nine saves on the year after missing the first month due to a facial fracture. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel couldn't convert a save opportunity Saturday, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out two in his team's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Kimbrel continues to be dominant, with 40 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings this season, but Saturday's blown save was his third of the season. He converted 50 of his 54 save opportunitles last season. Kimbrel owns a 1.99 ERA and 40:10 K:BB ratio while racking up 16 saves.

The Nationals took it easy on Blake Treinen in his return to the rotation, though he still pitched efficiently enough to finish six innings in a no-decision against the Padres.

Treinen needed just 63 pitches to get through six solid innings, as he let the defense do much of the work behind him. He struck out just one batter and walked none, while throwing 42 of 63 pitches for strikes in the outing. Treinen allowed two runs on five hits in his six innings of work, and was in line for the first win of his career before a blown save by Rafael Soriano.

Treinen made his return to the rotation after pitching just two total innings since May 22, so it makes sense that his workload was limited. He has a 1.78 ERA in 25 1/3 innings of work on the season and should make his net start Thursday against the Giants. 

The Phillies will call up reliever Ken Giles from Triple-A Lehigh Valley Sunday, with Mike Adams hitting the 15-day disabled list.

Giles has been dominant in the minors this season, sporting a fastball that regularly sits in the high 90's. He has 38 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings of work between Double-A and Triple-A this season. 

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order on Saturday, securing a 5-2 win over the Marlins and the save.

Strop picked up his first save since being reinstated from the disabled list last week. He has two on the year. He owns a 3.78 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings of relief.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman recorded his eighth save Saturday, striking out one in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off his team's 6-5 win over the Phillies.

Chapman has been on a role as of late, giving up no hits and no walks in his last five outings while striking out nine in five innings during that stretch. He owns a 1.50 ERA and 21:3 K:BB ratio in 12 innings after getting a late start to the season.

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller was brilliant against the Blue Jays Saturday.

Miller was exceptional during the start, allowing just three hits over nine innings of work. Though he's had his issues with walks this year, Miller allowed just one batter to reach via the free pass. Miller struck out five Blue Jays during the outing. The win brought him to 7-5 on the year.

The game couldn't have come at a better time for Miller. The Blue Jays have been one of the best offenses in the league this season. He was also coming off a stretch where he allowed 15earned runs over his last three starts. Miller will attempt to carry over the strong start when he takes on the Nationals this week. 

Mets reliever Carlos Torres struggled Friday against the Giants, in a 4-2 loss.

Torres really only made one mistake, but that ultimately cost the Mets the game. He allowed two runs on a home run by Buster Posey, as he took the loss. He also gave up three hits and a walk, while striking out one batter in the loss.

Torres fell to 2-3 on the season with the loss, while his ERA rose to 2.72 in 36 1/3 innings of work.