MLB Player News

Stewart and Griffin Jax are viewed as the most likely candidates to handle save situations for the Twins in the first few weeks of the season after president of baseball operations Derek Falvey announced Monday that Jhoan Duran (oblique) will begin the campaign on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Falvey didn't comment specifically on the Twins' plans at closer sans Duran, but Stewart and Jax represent the team's top-performing bullpen arms from 2023 that were retained heading into 2024. Though he spent considerable time on the shelf while tending to a sore elbow, Stewart was dominant when he was available last season, pitching to an 0.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB in 27.2 innings. Jax's numbers (3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 68:19 K:BB in 65.1 innings) weren't quite as impressive in comparison, but he has multiple seasons under his belt as a reliable relief arm for Minnesota in addition to possessing a much stronger track record on the health front. That might be enough to give Jax the early edge on save chances over Stewart, who still profiles as a decent late-round dart in mixed leagues and AL-only leagues in any case.

Jax and Brock Stewart are likely to fill in at closer for the Twins while Jhoan Duran (oblique) is sidelined, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Jax has turned into a weapon out of the Twins' bullpen over the last two seasons, posting a 3.60 ERA and 146:39 K:BB over 137.2 innings, collecting five saves along the way. He's also been dominant this spring, yielding just two hits and no runs with a 10:0 K:BB over six frames. Both Jax and Stewart are worthy short-term fantasy darts, though it's possible manager Rocco Baldelli won't settle on one guy.

Blanco appears likely to be included in the Astros' Opening Day rotation after Jose Urquidy was diagnosed Monday with a right forearm muscle strain, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Along with Justin Verlander (shoulder), Urquidy is set to begin the season on the injured list, and the Astros had already entered the spring without two other starters in Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow), both of whom are facing longer-term recoveries from their surgeries. Urquidy's absence in particular should open up a back-end rotation spot for Blanco, whose primary competition for the role now looks to be Brandon Bielak. Given his past experience working out of the bullpen and underwhelming numbers as a starter at the big-league level, Bielak might be a better fit as a multi-inning reliever, while Blanco is less of a known commodity after seeing his first extended action in the big leagues in 2023. He submitted a 4.50 ERA and 52:28 K:BB over 52 innings across 17 outings (seven starts) with Houston last season, but Blanco has pitched more effectively this spring. Blanco has thus far tossed 11.2 scoreless frames in Grapefruit League play, striking out 13 while allowing four hits and four walks.

Weiss (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Weiss is continuing to go through his throwing progression, but he hasn't made an appearance this spring while recovering from a teres major strain, and it's not clear how long he might be on the shelf. The reliever was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox last month.

Canterino will begin the season on the injured list at Triple-A St. Paul with a right subscapularis strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Canterino was sent to minor-league camp a week ago and now is hurt. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined. Injuries are unfortunately nothing new for Canterino, who missed all of the 2023 season following Tommy John surgery.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Thielbar (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Thielbar had a setback with his left hamstring during Saturday's live batting practice session. There's no timetable at this juncture for the left-handed reliever's return. It's a blow to a bullpen that will also be without Jhoan Duran (oblique) at the start of the season.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Duran will begin the season on the 15-day injured list with a moderate right oblique strain, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Duran felt a cramp in his side while warming up ahead of a live batting practice session Saturday and a subsequent MRI revealed the bad news. The fact the Twins are labeling his injury as a moderate strain would suggest that he's probably in store for longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Manager Rocco Baldelli might not settle on one closer while Duran is on the shelf, but Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart are viewed as the top candidates for saves while Duran is sidelined.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Sborz has been battling knee soreness lately but will throw a live batting practice session Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Sborz has been held out of Cactus League action for nearly two weeks because of the knee issue, but he'll face hitters Monday and should be ready for a game appearance soon. The Rangers anticipate the reliever being fine for Opening Day.

Brebbia (calf) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Monday in a game at minor-league camp, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Brebbia still has yet to make his Cactus League debut, but he'll still be able to build up at minor-league camp Monday as he looks to secure his spot in the White Sox's Opening Day bullpen. Assuming Brebbia's right calf presents no further complications in Monday's outing or his subsequent spring appearances, he could find himself in a prominent role in the bullpen to begin the campaign. The White Sox have yet to anoint a closer since trading away Gregory Santos to the Mariners in February, and Brebbia represents one of the more battle-tested options in an otherwise green bullpen. In addition to Brebbia, hard-throwing 23-year-old Prelander Berroa (shoulder) and converted starting pitcher Michael Kopech are candidates to factor into the equation for saves.

Kelly (oblique) will return to Grapefruit League play Friday with an appearance versus the Blue Jays, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Kelly has missed most of this month with a left oblique injury but is nearly ready to step back on a mound in a game setting. The reliever is expected to be ready for Opening Day and is competing for a spot in Boston's bullpen.