MLB Player News

Cardinals starter Shelby Miller suffered his fifth loss Saturday night against the Rangers.

Miller (8-5) allowed two-run homers to A.J. Pierzynski and Nelson Cruz. The right-hander permitted the four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-2 loss, his first at home this season. 

Miller has allowed four homers over his last three starts. He has allowed eight runs over 16 2/3 innings during that span. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at Oakland. He is 3-3 with a 3.29 ERA in seven road starts.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman blew his third save and suffered his third loss Saturday night against the Diamondbacks. 

Chapman, who entered the game in the ninth with a one-run lead, was unable to record an out as he gave up two walks and a single before surrendering a walkoff, two-run single to Jason Kubel to end the game.

He had converted 10 consecutive saves before blowing his first since May 19. Chapman has a 2.53 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP through his 35 appearances.

With Tyler Lyons in the minors, the Cardinals will use pitcher Joe Kelly as the No. 5 starter in the rotation, when needed, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Kelly, who worked five innings of scoreless relief Friday, may not be needed much in the next few weeks. The Cardinals have four off days between Monday and July 8. Kelly is 0-3 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 appearances (one start).

"We've drawn up at least a dozen models already," said Matheny, "and we're trying to think of the pros and cons of each. If there is a start to be had, it will be Joe Kelly."

The Padres called up a pair of relievers from Triple-A Tucson Saturday, after the bullpen was needed to throw all nine innings Friday.The Padres recalled Brad Boxberger and Anthony Bass from Tucson to provide some relief in the pen. 

Boxberger posted a 3.52 ERA in 7 2/3 innings for the Padres earlier in the season, while Bass posted a 4.55 ERA in 31 2/3 innings. 

Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez, on the 15-day disabled list with a forearm strain, is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list to start Wednesday against the Mariners at Safeco Field, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Gomez is 1-0 with a 3.26 ERA as a starter (seven starts). He is 1-0 with a 2.52 ERA in six appearances (three starts) on the road.

Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez, dealing with a forearm strain, could be ready to return to the Pirates' rotation within the next week or two, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Gomez is not expected to need another rehab start. He threw eight innings over two rehab starts at Triple-A Indianapolis and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks.

After throwing five no-hit innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Thursday it's likely Jeanmar Gomez's next start will be in the majors. Gomez is working his way back from a forearm injury.

"We'll see how he feels when we get our hands on him. He could be very well close to getting back in the mix," Hurdle said to MLB.com. "We've got vacation coming up (three off days in an 11-day stretch), so we have some flexibility in what we might want to do."

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel became the third National League pitcher to reach 20 saves Wednesday after he closed out a 5-3 win over the Mets.

Kimbrel threw a quick ninth inning, setting the Mets down in order while striking out two. He needed 12 pitches to save his 10th game in a row.

Kimbrel has allowed a run over 13 straight appearances, lowering his ERA to 1.65. He has three blown saves. 

The Rockies will assign recently acquired pitcher Collin McHugh to Double-A Tulsa, according to ESPN.com. McHugh was acquired Tuesday in a trade for Eric Young.

McHugh had a 10.29 ERA in three appearances for the Mets. 

The Mets traded pitcher Collin McHugh to the Rockies Tuesday in exchange for outfielder Eric Young. McHugh and Young recently were designated for assignment, so neither team loses a player from the active roster.

McHugh has a 10.29 ERA in seven major-league innings this season, while Young hit .242 with a .642 OPS in 165 at-bats for the Rockies.