MLB Player News

Kimbrel struck out the side on 14 pitches to earn his 15th save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.

Kimbrel hasn't allowed a hit in nine games, and the walk he allowed in his previous outing was the first free pass in 65 batters faced. He's been a markedly different pitcher in 2017 than what we saw in 2016, when he walked a career-high 5.1 batters per nine innings.

Pomeranz (5-3) allowed one run on seven hits without a walk and struck out eight over a season-high seven innings in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.

Pomeranz was dinged for a run in the second inning, then dominated while ceding just four singles over his final five frames. He's been brilliant in his last two starts, pitching around the zone with 19 strikeouts and just one walk in 13 innings. Primarily a fastball-curveball pitcher earlier in the year, the lefty has introduced more cutters in recent outings, and having that third pitch makes him less predictable. Pomeranz will next pitch Tuesday in New York against the Yankees.

Smith (elbow) will face live hitters next Tuesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

This will mark the first time Smith will face live hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery last May. If all goes well, he'll progress to a simulated game before heading out on a rehab assignment. He's still hoping to return around late June.

Manaea (4-3) tossed seven impressive innings in Cleveland on Wednesday, striking out nine while allowing just a single run on three hits and a walk.

He's now won three straight starts, and the last two have been particularly impressive efforts. Manaea's showing more and more flashes of his sky-high upside, and he's now pulled his ERA under the 4.00 mark to 3.91; his accompanying 1.03 WHIP and promising 54:19 K:BB (48.1 innings) would suggest that his run prevention will continue improving. The 25-year-old righty will make his next start at home against Toronto on Monday.

Covey (oblique) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports.

Covey got through Wednesday's session without any issues, so he'll head to extended spring training to continue rehabbing. He remains without a timetable for his return, though one should start to materialize as he ramps up his throwing in Arizona.

Santiago (4-5) was tagged for six runs on eight hits, including three home runs, and gave up two walks over six innings in Wednesday's 17-6 loss to the Astros. He struck out three.

Houston ended up pounding out six homers on the day, but the Twins very nearly got Santiago off the hook for the loss by narrowing the gap to 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning before their bullpen imploded. The left-hander has now served up a brutal 10 homers in his last 20 innings, sending his ERA skyrocketing to 4.76 -- a full two runs more than his mark when his struggles keeping the ball in the park began. He'll try to figure things out in his next start Tuesday in Seattle.

Pressly was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Pressly is in a major funk recently, as the 28-year-old has allowed seven runs on four hits (two home runs) while recording just one out over his last two appearances. He also walked two and struck out none over that time, but had a 23:7 K:BB through the prior 18 innings. He'll head back to Rochester to work out some kinks, and if Pressly is able to reduce his contact rate there, he should see another shot with the big club this season. The Twins are expected to announce a roster move ahead of Thursday's series opener against the Angels.

Pruitt was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

Pruitt will return for his second stint with the big club this season, providing a fresh arm to a bullpen that was forced into action early on during Tuesday's game. The right-hander has enjoyed a fair amount of success at the Triple-A level, but that success did not translate during his first run in the majors (7.52 ERA, 1.97 WHIP over 20.1 innings).

Andriese (groin) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

The Rays are terming Andriese's groin strain as a mild one, though given the volatile timetable of such injuries, it's possible that he'll require more than the minimum 10 days to recover. Though Ryan Garton was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move to provide bullpen depth in the short term, the Rays will likely delve into their minor-league ranks next week to select a replacement in the rotation for Andriese, who had turned in a 3.45 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 60 innings this season. Pitching prospects Brent Honeywell and Jose De Leon represent perhaps the most appealing fantasy options that could potentially assume Andriese's spot.

Garton was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

The bullpen was taxed Tuesday, going 6.1 innings in relief of Matt Andriese (groin), so the Rays added reinforcements in the form of Garton and Austin Pruitt. Garton gave up six runs in 3.2 innings during a prior stint with the major-league team earlier this year, but he's allowed just one run while striking out 24 in 15.1 frames with Durham.