MLB Player News

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel matched a franchise record held by John Smoltz by recording his 154th career save in his team's 9-5 win over the Marlins Saturday.

The Braves called upon Kimbrel with one out and two men on the ninth inning, and after striking out the first batter he faced, the closer saw the game extended on an error by the second baseman, who failed to cleanly catch what would have been the final out on a throw from the third baseman. Kimbrel was able to induce another ground ball against the next batter to finish off the save.

Kimbrel hadn't recorded a strikeout in either of his previous two appearances before notching one Saturday. He owns an exemplary 1.77 ERA and 37:9 K:BB ratio in 20 1/3 innings.

The move of Daisuke Matsuzaka to the starting rotation has doomed Friday starter Rafael Montero to a demotion from the Mets to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Montero gave up three earned runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in Philadelphia. The overuse of the bullpen in that game motivated the promotion of Buddy Carlyle, which in turn pushed Montero back to the minors.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman recorded his fourth save in a row Friday, in a 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Chapman worked a perfect ninth for the save, striking out two batters and inducing one groundball out on 13 pitches. He is now 6 for 7 on save opportunities, with a 2.00 ERA in nine innings since coming off the disabled list. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel worked an atypical ninth inning Friday against the Marlins, as he got the save without recording a strikeout.

Kimbrel retired the side in order on three fly balls, using 15 pitches. He recorded his 14th save in 16 chances, and still has 36 strikeouts in just 19 2/3 innings of work.

Mets pitcher Rafael Montero remains winless in his major-league career, as the Mets fell 6-5 to the Phillies in extra innings Friday.

Montero put a lot of stress on the bullpen in the game, as he couldn't make it through the fourth inning. He was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- in 3 2/3 innings, on seven hits. He also walked two batters without striking one out on 80 pitches, but settled for a no-decision as the game went into extras.

Montero has failed to live up to expectations since getting the call from the minors. He is 0-2 in 20 innings of work, with 11 walks and 17 strikeouts. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Cubs. 

Nationals pitcher Blake Treinen will remain available out of the bullpen for the next four days, MLB.com reports Friday.

Treinen, who was pulled out of the rotation after his scheduled start Tuesday was rained out, has not pitched since May 22 at this point. If he is not needed over the next four days, manager Matt Williams said he will try to get him a bullpen session or simulated game so Treinen can return to the rotation.

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop has been activated from the disabled list Friday.

Strop has been dealing with a strained groin. He was expected to go on a rehab assignment, but that may no longer be the case. Hector Rondon was placed on the paternity list in order to make room for Strop. 

Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson will resume throwing bullpen sessions, according to azcentral.com.

Hudson is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, and has been throwing bullpens over the past few weeks. Hudson took a short break from the throwing sessions, but had been playing catch and long toss. He's ready to resume throwing out of the bullpen again, and will likely do so within the week. 

Pirates reliever Mark Melancon was back in his setup role Thursday against the Dodgers, after Jason Grilli was given back his closer's job prior to the game.

Melancon worked a perfect eighth inning with the Pirates up. He set the Dodgers down in order on 13 pitches, while striking out two batters. The Pirates went on to win, 6-3.

Melancon went 10 for 12 as the Pirates closer, and will now continue to team with Grilli to give the team a formidable late-inning duo. He has a 2.16 ERA in 25 innings of work. 

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was called on to stem the bleeding late in Thursday's game against the Red Sox, but the defense behind him let him down in a 4-3 loss.

Kimbrel entered a tied game in the eighth innings with runners on first and second, after the Red Sox rallied to tie the game. He got out of the inning with ease, and came back out for the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, in an attempt to send it to extra innings.

Kimbrel walked the first two batters he faced in the innings, but seemed like he might have gotten nearly out of a jam with a groundball to third. Unfortunately, second baseman Tommy La Stella had trouble fielding a potential double play ball, which allowed the runner to advance from second home, scoring the winning run.

Kimbrel took his first loss of the season in the outing, while allowing one run and recording one out. The game raised his ERA nearly half a run, to 2.41.