MLB Player News

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he feels fine and expects to make his next start Saturday against the Rangers without any issues.

Miller left Monday's start against the Cubs with a right calf cramp. He plans to introduce more fluids and electrolytes into his routine before his next start. The right-hander is 8-4 with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in 14 starts. He is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last four starts.

Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller, who was forced from Monday's start against the Cubs with a right calf cramp, said his leg was loosening after the game as the medical staff had him drink liquids to hydrate, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Miller said he didn't do "what I needed to to take care of myself," but added he plans to introduce more fluids and electrolytes into his routine before his next start, Saturday against the Rangers. 

Even if Miller kept going Monday, he might not have lasted much longer because he threw 83 pitches in five innings. The rookie continues to be frustrated by high pitch counts.

"It’s the mental side of it," Miller said. "I’m trying to go out there and throw strikes and throwing it in there. You start missing spots. You don’t have that fastball life. You don’t have the mentality that you have the rest of the game. It’s something that I need to work on. I see guys like (Adam) Wainwright, Lance (Lynn), and (Jake) Westbrook go out there and just dominate the first inning -- go three up, three down. That’s what you need to do. That’s not on your side when you walk the first guy."

Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller was removed from Monday's start agaisnt the Cubs with cramping in his right leg, the team announced. He allowed two hits and two walks in five scoreless innings, striking out five while throwing 83 pitches.

Miller left the game in line for his eighth win. He has a 2.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman held the Pirates scoreless in the ninth inning Monday to pick up his 18th save of the season. He walked one and allowed no hits while striking out two.

Chapman has converted 90 percent of his save opportunites while posting a 2.03 ERA and 54:13 K:BB ratio in 31 innings.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel struck out two and pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 19th save in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Giants.

Kimbrel has not surrendered a run since he blew a save May 7. He has 16 strikeouts and four walks in his 12 innings since. His ERA has gone from 3.38 to 1.71 over that span. 

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen suffered his second blown save of the season Saturday afternoon against the Pirates.

Jansen allowed a solo home run to Travis Snider to send the game to extras. He surrendered the run on a hit while striking out one in an inning of a 5-3 win. He has allowed one run in his last 12 appearances. He has a 2.57 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.

Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second win Sunday afternoon against the Giants.

Kimbrel (2-1) has pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings. He has 18 saves along with a 1.78 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 26 appearances.

The Mets designated pitcher Collin McHugh for assignment Saturday. McHugh went 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Las Vegas. He was 0-1 with a 10.29 ERA in three appearances (one start) in the majors.

The Mets promoted right-handed pitcher Carlos Torres from Triple-A Las Vegas Saturday, ESPN reports.

The 30-year-old exercised an out in his contract Friday and the Mets had 48 hours to promote or release him. He will pitch out of the bullpen.

Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters Friday he doesn't plan to use closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning. The Reds currently have two set-up men -- Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall -- dealing with injuries.

"I'm not going to use Chapman in the eighth," Baker told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's too early. Something happens to Chapman, you're stuck with the people everybody wants you to stay away from. The days of the eighth-, ninth-inning closers ... That's kind of is by the wayside."

Chapman struck out two and pitched a perfect ninth inning in Friday's extra-inning game against the Brewers.