MLB Player News

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.

Finnegan has been unavailable lately due to back tightness but will throw a bullpen session Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Assuming he comes out of Monday's session with no issues, Finnegan will pitch in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. The right-hander is at the top of the Nationals' bullpen hierarchy but could face some competition for saves from Hunter Harvey.

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.

Jimenez struck out one in two-thirds of a scoreless inning of relief during Sunday's split-squad game against the Red Sox.

The right-hander has had a solid spring, giving up only one run with a 6:3 K:BB over 4.2 innings. Jimenez should be one of Atlanta's top setup men from the right side this season in front of closer Raisel Iglesias, and he's got a strong chance of topping the 13 holds he recorded in 2023 over 59 appearances.

The Diamondbacks optioned Martin to Triple-A Reno on Monday.

Martin was slow-played this spring after missing all of last season with a tear in the lat tendon of his right shoulder. He's healthy now and could contribute out of the Diamondbacks' bullpen at some point this season. He'll try to sharpen his command at Reno.

Lee gave up two runs on two hits over two innings of relief in Sunday's split-squad game against the Orioles. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The southpaw got taken deep by minor leaguer John Rhodes in the sixth inning for a two-run shot, but Lee was otherwise dominant Sunday. He has a stellar 13:0 K:BB through eight innings this spring, but keeping the ball in the park has been a problem as he's served up five homers. He's expected to break camp in a lower-leverage role for Atlanta as the fourth lefty in the bullpen behind A.J. Minter (finger), Aaron Bummer and Tyler Matzek, but if he keeps getting hit hard, the organization has plenty of pitching depth and Lee has minor-league options remaining.

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.

The Marlins reassigned Smeltzer on Monday.

Unless he negotiates a release from his minor-league deal with Miami, Smeltzer is likely to open the season as a swingman for the pitching staff at Triple-A Jacksonville. Smeltzer is heading into his second season with the Miami organization after he compiled a 6.45 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB across 22.1 innings at the big-league level in 2023.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Holderman hasn't made a Grapefruit League appearance since last Tuesday while he recovers from a virus, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

A bug seems to be making its way around the Pirates' spring facility in Bradenton, Fla., as Shelton also noted that infielder Liover Peguero hasn't been available since last Wednesday due to an illness. Assuming Holderman is able to make a full recovery by the end of the week, he should still be in good shape to travel north with the Pirates for the start of the regular season.

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.