MLB Player News

Kinley was designated for assignment by the Twins following Wednesday's loss to the Yankees, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Kinley has struggled mightily in his first taste of the majors, allowing nine runs on nine hits and four walks through 3.1 innings of work. As such, the Twins opted to drop him from their 40-man roster in exchange for a more serviceable bullpen arm. The Rule 5 pick will now be offered back to the Marlins.

Giles struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Angels.

This should be comforting to those fantasy owners who bought in on Giles as the Astros' closer. This was just his second save opportunity of the season as manager A.J. Hinch has also given chances to Chris Devenski (two) and Brad Peacock (one). Hinch mentioned last week that Giles was dealing with some back tightness, but the right-hander has tossed four scoreless innings since and hasn't given up a base hit over his last six appearances.

Diaz collected his 10th save of the season after striking out two in a scoreless inning against the White Sox on Wednesday.

Diaz collected his second save in as many days, making him the first pitcher this season to record double-digit saves. He has now notched two straight scoreless outings since conceding his first run of the season over the weekend. Diaz is now a perfect 10-for-10 on save chances this season and owns an elite 0.73 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB through 12.1 innings.

Treinen (lower leg) said that he is fine after taking a comebacker to the shin during Tuesday's outing, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Though Treinen appears to be fully operational, it's likely that manager Bob Melvin will keep him off the mound Wednesday in order to give the closer a couple days of rest before the team faces Houston on Friday. Over eight appearances this season, he's posted a 1.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with three saves in five opportunities.

Norris is currently scheduled to start Sunday in Baltimore, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

With a doubleheader Wednesday, the Tigers are scheduled to play six games in five days, so they'll need to turn to their swingman for a spot start. Norris has a 4.91 ERA through 11 innings so far this season, though his 3.45 FIP suggests that he deserves better. He's walking too many batters (11.8 percent), but his 27.5 percent strikeout rate and 46.7 percent groundball rate are both well above his career averages.

Alvarez was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Alvarez passed through waivers unclaimed and will remain within the Mariners' organization after being sent off the 40-man roster last week. The 29-year-old has appeared in five games for Tacoma thus far in 2018, posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.97 WHIP over 6.1 innings of relief.

Lakins (elbow) came off the minor-league disabled list to throw three scoreless innings Tuesday, allowing four hits and zero walks while striking out three for Double-A Portland in Hartford.

The 23-year-old righty is a fringe prospect in the grand scheme of things, but he could eventually reach the majors as a swingman or middle reliever.

Trivino notched his first hold in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday, allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

Just recalled from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day, Trivino was pressed into action when Blake Treinen took a line drive off his shin, forcing his exit after a single pitch in the eighth. The right-hander ended up notching his first career hold under the unexpected circumstances, firing 11 of 16 pitches for strikes while recording strikeouts of both Nomar Mazara and Joey Gallo. Trivino's stay with the big-league club may not extend beyond Yusmeiro Petit's bereavement leave, but he's now encouragingly put together three scoreless outings to open his big-league career.

Pearson has been dealing with an oblique strain and may see game action in early May, John Lott of The Athletic Toronto reports.

Pearson was reportedly dealing with a minor back issue, but Lott reports the young pitcher started the season with the oblique strain. The 21-year-old has been throwing bullpen sessions and could be nearing his season debut for High-A Dunedin.

Treinen sustained a bruised shin in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Rangers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Treinen was hit by a line drive off the bat of Shin-Soo Choo in the eighth inning -- his only pitch thrown -- and promptly exited the game. Thankfully the injury appears minor, and manager Bob Melvin hopes his closer will be ready to go for the weekend series against the Astros following Thursday's off day.