MLB Player News

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was unable to secure a save in his team's 4-2, 10-inning win over the Marlins Monday, giving up one earned run on one hit and one walk but striking out three batters in the ninth inning.

Kimbrel walked the first batter he faced, watched the second reach on a catcher's interference ruling then gave up a game-tying double to the third. He buckled down after that, striking out the next three batters. Kimbrel's blown save was his first of the season, but it comes on the heels of him giving up two earned runs in his first appearance after missing a week due to injury. He owns a 4.91 ERA and 16:3 K:BB ratio in 7 1/3 innings.

Reds pitcher J.J. Hoover took the loss Monday after giving up one earned run on two hits and three walks in one inning of work as the Reds fell to the Pirates, 6-5.

Hoover (1-2) came into the game with two outs in the eighth and one man on, and he was able to escape the inning without giving up a run despite surrendering a walk and a hit. He wasn't as lucky in the ninth inning, as the Pirates managed a walkoff single with two outs after Hoover walked two batters in the inning. He owns a 13.50 ERA and 6:8 K:BB ratio in 5 1/3 innings.

The Mets inserted Kyle Farnsworth into the closing role this weekend, but general manager Sandy Alderson is keeping his options open regarding the role moving forward, including potentially using Carlos Torres or the recently removed Jose Valverde in the ninth inning at some point, the Star-Ledger reports.

"In my view we’ve got a lot of guys that are sort of on a par," Sandy Alderson regarding his comfort level with Farnsworth as closer. "Valverde pitches a little differently than he does over the first four, five outings, there’s no reason he can’t be as effective as he was yesterday. Torres has been very good for us. The nice thing about Carlos is that he can go more than one inning typically. So we’ll see how it goes with Farnsworth. I like the variety of options we may have going forward. The key is for guys to get better and we’ll also see how things develop at Vegas."

The Mets will likely stick with Farnsworth as long as he remains productive. He has given up just one earned run in 8 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking two.

Reds manager Bryan Price said closer Aroldis Chapman will "likely" throw live batting practice Wednesday, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. He threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Sunday and is expected to begin a rehab assignment after throwing live batting practice.

Rockies reliever Matt Belisle endured a rough eighth inning and was hit with his second loss of the season in a 10-9 defeat to the Phillies.

Belisle allowed a run-scoring single to Jimmy Rollins and allowed another run to score on a Chase Utley fielder's choice. He was charged with two runs on three hits and no walks in one inning of work. He owns a 6.00 ERA over nine innings pitched.

Phillies reliever Jacob Diekman was knocked around on Sunday, but managed to escape with his second win of the season in a 10-9 victory over Colorado at Coors Field.

With a two-run advantage, Diekman served up a two-run home run to Justin Morneau in the seventh inning to tie the game. The Phillies rallied and scored two runs in the bottom of the eight to secure the win. He allowed two runs on two hits and no walks while striking out three over 1 1/3 innings pitched. He owns an 8.38 ERA over his first 9 2/3 innings of work this season.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen made quick work of the Diamondbacks on Sunday, collecting his seventh save of the season in a 4-1 victory.

Jansen struck out Miguel Montero, Aaron Hill and Eric Chavez in the ninth to secure the win. He is 7 for 9 in save chances with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP over 11 innings pitched.

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller was in line for a second straight win Sunday, but the bullpen couldn't hold a two-run lead as the Nationals rallied for a 3-2 win.

Miller had some control issues Sunday, walking a season-high five batters. However, he was able to work out of trouble most of the afternoon, as he tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and struck out seven.

Miller walked the bases loaded in the third inning, but escaped the jam by getting Adam LaRoche to strike out. Miller allowed a pair of two-out singles in the fourth inning, but got out of trouble by striking out Stephen Strasburg. He was finally lifted after allowing a one-out walk to Danny Espinosa and a one-out single to Jose Lobaton in the sixth inning.

Miller was able to lower his ERA from 4.67 to 3.57 in the no-decision. Miller will be back on the hill Friday against the Pirates. He lost in his first start against Pittsburgh April 4, allowing five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Sunday starting pitcher Joe Kelly is "responding better than anticipated" as he gets treatment for a left hamstring strain, per MLB.com. Kelly has begun to play catch.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said closer Craig Kimbrel will be available Sunday against the Mets after struggling in his first appearance Saturday since returning from a shoulder injury. However, Kimbrel's shoulder injury was not the reason for his struggles Saturday.

Kimbrel was removed from Saturday's game after loading the bases during a save situation. He was charged with two runs on three hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning.