MLB Player News
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Beginning rehab assignment
Duran (oblique) will report to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The 26-year-old progressed to facing live batters Friday and has now been cleared for game action. Duran will likely require at least a few appearances with St. Paul before joining the Twins, and he could be activated before the end of April. It remains to be seen if manager Rocco Baldelli will ease Duran into high-leverage work or if the right-hander will immediately reclaim the closer role once reistated.
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Craig Kimbrel RP | NYM
Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Nabs fifth save
Kimbrel picked up the save Saturday, pitching a perfect ninth inning in a win over the Royals.
Kimbrel entered the game with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and needed just nine pitches to retire the side and secure his fifth save of the season. The veteran right-hander has been phenomenal since blowing his first save attempt back on April 1, allowing only two hits and no walks over his last eight appearances while striking out 12. Saturday's save actually marked his first outing in which he didn't record at least one strikeout.
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Rafael Montero RP | NYY
Astros' Rafael Montero: Pitching well to begin 2024
Montero allowed one walk and no hits while striking out one across a scoreless inning to earn a hold Saturday against the Nationals.
The Astros were projected to have a strong bullpen with Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu all leading the way in high-leverage situations. However, each has struggled to begin the new campaign, while Montero has now turned in nine scoreless performances in 11 appearances. He's pitched primarily in the sixth and seventh innings this season, though he could earn higher-leverage work given his solid start.
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Ryan Pressly RP | CHC
Astros' Ryan Pressly: Blows save chance
Pressly allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks while striking out one across one inning to blow the save Saturday against the Nationals.
Josh Hader threw 30 pitches to convert a save Friday, likely leaving him unavailable Saturday. Pressly was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning as a result, though he failed to do so through a combination of bad luck and poor pitching. The leadoff man reached base on catcher's interference, but Pressly then proceeded to surrender a double and single that resulted in two runs crossing the plate. Pressly had pitched fairly well recently, but he's now allowed at least one earned run in five of 10 games this season with an overall ERA of 8.31.
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Jordan Romano RP | LAA
Blue Jays' Jordan Romano: Secures second save
Romano earned the save in Saturday's 5-2 win against the Padres after he retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Romano was provided a three-run cushion Saturday and needed just 11 pitches to retire San Diego's top three hitters. The veteran right-hander made his season debut less than a week ago after going down with elbow inflammation late in spring training, and he's quickly picked up a pair of saves. Romano retains a firm grip on the closer role for Toronto and already appears to be in strong form.
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Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Collects fifth save
Jansen struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his fifth save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Pirates.
The veteran right-hander fired nine of 14 pitches for strikes in his most impressive performance so far this season, although he did benefit from a third-strike clock violation by Michael Taylor. It's only the third time in eight appearances that Jansen hasn't issued a walk, and while his 2.35 ERA looks good, it comes with a 1.57 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB over 7.2 innings.
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Emmanuel Clase RP | CLE
Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Nabs sixth save Saturday
Clase tossed a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts against the Athletics on Saturday to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Asking Clase to preserve a three-run lead against the A's is about as easy as a save opportunity gets, but his fantasy managers will take it. Clase did give up a leadoff double to Ryan Noda in this one, but he quickly rebounded with a couple punchouts sandwiched around a groundout. The 26-year-old closer has been credited with two blown saves this season, but he's been charged with just one earned run and has a 9:0 K:BB over 10 frames.
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Pete Fairbanks RP | MIA
Rays' Pete Fairbanks: Unavailable due to stomach issues
Fairbanks was unavailable to pitch Saturday versus the Yankees due to stomach issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Fairbanks wasn't even at the ballpark, as he was told to remain at the team hotel with his illness. It explains why Garrett Cleavinger was called upon for the save chance in the 10th inning Saturday (which he converted). Fairbanks has had a rocky start to the season with a 9.00 ERA and eight walks over seven innings, but he's been tagged with only one blown save. Once he feels well enough to pitch, Fairbanks still looks like the best bet to receive the Rays' next save opportunity.
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Owen White RP | CHW
Rangers' Owen White: Recalled to big club
White was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
The 24-year-old took the roster spot of Jack Leiter, who was sent down after making his MLB debut Thursday. White hasn't pitched well in three starts for Round Rock this season with a 7.30 ERA across 12.1 innings, but he will be available in relief for the time being. White got his feet wet in the big leagues last summer with a couple appearances out of the Texas bullpen.
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Josh Winckowski RP | BOS
Red Sox's Josh Winckowski: Confirmed as Sunday's starter
Winckowski will start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
He will be taking the spot vacated by Garrett Whitlock (oblique). Winckowski hasn't pitched longer than 2.2 innings in any relief outing this season and went just one frame in each of his last two appearances, so Sunday's start will be a pretty short one. With Whitlock slated to miss at least a couple weeks, Winckowski could be needed for additional starts after Sunday.