MLB Player News

Duran allowed a hit while striking out two over two-thirds of a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Giants. He threw 104.6 mph and 104.4 mph fastballs, which are new Twins records, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Duran was getting work in a blowout win as he hadn't pitched in four days. With the Twins off Thursday, Duran should be available for Friday's game against Toronto.

Pruitt will serve as the Athletics' opening pitcher in Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Ken Waldichuk (calf) had been the listed starter for Oakland, but he's now instead expected to work in bulk relief. Pruitt carries a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB in 10.2 innings this season out of the Oakland bullpen.

The Rays placed Littell on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder fatigue, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Littell last pitched Monday and gave up two runs while recording just one out in a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined.

Smith picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Pirates, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.

Smith entered with one out in the eighth inning after Jose Leclerc loaded the bases. The left-hander got Rodolfo Castro to fly out before striking out Jack Suwinski to end the frame. Smith then set down the Pirates in order in the ninth, securing a one-run victory and his ninth save. Smith has now converted his last five save opportunities across five scoreless innings. His ERA is down to 2.65 with a 0.88 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB through 17 innings this season. He's become a reliable source of saves on a first-place Rangers team.

Tampa Bay designated Burdi for assignment Wednesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Burdi was lit up for six runs -- five earned -- in Tuesday's 20-1 loss to the Blue Jays. The transaction removes the right-hander from both the 40-man roster and the 26-man active roster to make room for reliever Ben Heller, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. If Burdi goes unclaimed or isn't traded, he'll likely report back to Triple-A to provide bullpen depth for the Rays for the rest of 2023.

Tampa Bay selected Heller's contract from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Heller will get a chance to pitch in the majors for the first time since 2020 after the right-hander forged a 3.91 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 23 innings in his 16 appearances for Durham. He'll take the roster spot of Zack Burdi, who was designated for assignment in the corresponding transaction.

Morris (lat) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Akron, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Morris, who has been on the shelf since early in the spring with a right teres major muscle strain, looks ready to advance to the final phase of his throwing program after he spent the last several weeks building up at extended spring training in Arizona. Expect the right-hander to handle a limited pitch count Wednesday and gradually increase his workload over multiple outings in the high minors before the Guardians bring him back from the 60-day injured list. Because rookies Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee have delivered quality results since entering the big-league rotation and with both Triston McKenzie (shoulder) and Aaron Civale (oblique) being further along in their respective rehab programs, Morris likely won't have a spot in the rotation waiting for him once activated. The Guardians could still view Morris as a useful multi-inning option out of the bullpen if they don't want to have him make regular starts at Triple-A Columbus once his rehab assignment ends.

Cimber gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning during Tuesday's rout of the Rays.

It wouldn't have been possible to find a lower-leverage spot for Cimber in his return from the injured list -- the Jays were up 20-1 when he took the mound -- but the appearance was still a success as he tossed nine of 14 pitches for strikes, and the one hit he allowed came when Christian Bethancourt fought off a fastball above the strike zone and slapped it the other way for a single. Cimber looked good early in the season before being shut down due to back issues, and if he stays healthy the sidearming right-hander should be a key part of the middle-inning bridge to closer Jordan Romano.

Mills (elbow) won't throw in an extended spring training game this weekend, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Mills was supposed to head to Boston's facility in Fort Myers, Fla., but the Red Sox are having him delay his arrival while he contends with soreness. It's unclear how much time Mills will need before he begins throwing in game situations.

Cuas (3-0) earned the win Tuesday over the Tigers, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings.

Mike Mayers pitched well but came up an out short of qualifying for the win after running into trouble in the fifth inning. Cuas entered with runners on the corners and two outs and proceeded to allow an inherited runner to score before ending the inning. Cuas loaded the bases himself in the sixth, but he worked out of the jam with no additional damage done, and the Tigers never got close to mounting a comeback. He's avoided being charged with a run in seven of his last eight outings. For the season, Cuas has a 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB with one hold over 21.2 innings in a low-leverage role.