MLB Player News

Duffey threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout in Tuesday's spring-training win over Baltimore. He's given up three runs in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts this spring.

Duffey will factor in the late innings again for the Twins, likely setting up both Taylor Rogers and Alex Colome. However, he could get the final outs of a game occasionally as well. Duffey had a 1.88 ERA with an excellent 34.1 percent strikeout rate and an exemplary 7.3 percent walk rate last season. He should offer value in leagues that count holds (12 last year).

Neris worked on a slider over the offseason and has been trying it out in spring games, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Neris threw a slider infrequently earlier in his career, last using it in in 2017. His profile is led by a splitter that can be a dominant pitch at times, but he may need something more after a disappointing season that saw him struggle to a 4.57 ERA and a career-worst 12.6 percent walk rate. There's no guarantee the reborn slider will have the desired effect, but there's at least a chance it helps him get back to being the guy who posted a 3.23 ERA from 2016 to 2019. He currently looks to be locked into a tight race with Archie Bradley for the Phillies' closer job, with the team yet to offer much clarity about the situation.

Reyes will be deployed strictly as a reliever this season with the goal of reaching 100 innings, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The club plans on moving him to the rotation in 2022, assuming he holds up physically this year while working as a long reliever. Reyes has the stuff to be one of the best multi-inning relievers this year, which makes him relevant in most roto formats even if he's not regularly getting saves. Staying healthy is the big goal for the former top pitching prospect. He could vulture some wins and saves in this role, and Reyes figures to eclipse 100 strikeouts easily if he stays healthy.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Fairbanks (illness) is scheduled to make his return to Grapefruit League action Thursday versus the Braves, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Fairbanks was scratched ahead of his scheduled appearance Sunday due to a bout of food poisoning, but Cash indicated that the reliever has since recovered from the ailment and is feeling good again. Though he wasn't among the 12 Rays who recorded saves during the 2020 regular season, Fairbanks picked up three saves during the team's subsequent playoff run. The hard-throwing righty should continue to warrant consideration for end-game duties in 2021, though Cash isn't expected to commit to a primary closer.

Ponce de Leon, who has a chance to win the No. 5 role in the starting rotation, allowed an earned run on three hits and a walk over two innings during a Grapefruit League tie with the Marlins on Monday. He struck out four.

While he's yet to open a game in either of his first two Grapefruit League turns, Ponce de Leon has essentially logged an early-spring starter's workload with his pair of two-inning appearances. Despite giving up consecutive two-baggers Monday, the 29-year-old has pitched well overall and owns a 2.25 ERA over his four-inning spring resume thus far.

Helsley has fired two scoreless innings across his first two Grapefruit League appearances, allowing no hits, two walks and recording three strikeouts.

Helsley drew a ninth-inning assignment in a tie with the Marlins on Monday after debuting with a seventh-inning appearance against the Astros on Thursday. He entered the 2020 season with the potential to close out some games in the absence of Jordan Hicks, but Helsley ultimately went just 1-for-3 in save opportunities across 12 appearances. The hard-throwing right-hander is likely ticketed for seventh- and eighth-inning work even if Hicks isn't ready for the full-time closer role right from the start of the season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged Tuesday that Brasier (conditioning) may not be ready to go for Opening Day, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Following his late arrival at spring training due to a personal matter, Brasier has yet to catch up with Boston's other bullpen arms. Brasier has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut, and with Cora indicating that the team won't rush the right-hander back into action, he could be in store for a brief stint on the IL to begin the season while he ramps up. The fact that Brasier isn't dealing with any sort of injury is encouraging, but his absence from Grapefruit League games could take him out of the running for Boston's up-for-grabs closer job. Adam Ottavino and Matt Barnes currently look like the frontrunners for the gig.

Leclerc has a clearer path to reclaiming the closer role in Texas after Jonathan Hernandez was diagnosed with a sprained UCL on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Leclerc was delayed by visa issues to start camp but has since arrived, though he's yet to pitch in a spring-training game. Though he's saved 29 games in his career, he wasn't a lock to win the closer role, as the last two seasons have seen him struggle to a 4.33 ERA in 2019 and then make only two appearances in an injury-abbreviated 2020. The Rangers' bullpen isn't exactly loaded with proven options, however, and Hernandez was shaping up to be his top competition. It hasn't been officially confirmed that Leclerc will win the job, but his path is now a lot clearer with Hernandez shut down from throwing for four weeks.

The Rangers announced Tuesday that Rodriguez (ankle) is on track to resume throwing off a mound later this week, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Rodriguez will likely have to complete multiple bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face hitters again, but if he avoids any further setbacks this spring in his recovery from the ankle sprain, he should be able to avoid the injured list and win a spot in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen. After a one-year stint in Japan, Rodriguez signed with Texas last winter and was effective over his 12 appearances during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, submitting a 2.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 12.2 innings. If healthy, the lefty should be in the mix for a key setup role with the Rangers this season.

The Rangers announced Tuesday that Palumbo has been dealing with back spasms in recent days, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram repots.

Palumbo is expected to be rested for the next few days before he resumes throwing. Assuming the injury proves to be nothing more than a day-to-day concern, Palumbo's bid for a spot in the Rangers' Opening Day rotation shouldn't be completely derailed.