MLB Player News

Thielbar threw two perfect innings while striking out two in Friday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.

Thielbar struggled to start the season with a 8.04 ERA and 5.2 BB/9 in his first 15.2 innings. However, he's turned his season around since June 12 with a 2.81 ERA and 19:5 K:BB over his last 16 innings. He had seemingly lost the ability to control his looping curveball early in the season, but has gotten back to peak form. He could play a key role in high-leverage spots for the Twins as the top southpaw in the bullpen, and he's picked up two of his eight holds on the year in his last three appearances.

Manager Matt Quatraro said Friday that Harvey has been dealing with back tightness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Harvey picked up his first save of the season Sunday against the Tigers, but his back issues have prevented him from pitching since then. The Royals skipper didn't give any indication that the 29-year-old reliever will need to spend time on the injured list, but there is also no telling when he'll be available out of the bullpen again.

Winckowski will start Saturday's game against the Astros, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Cooper Criswell (illness) landed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday and Nick Pivetta is having his turn in the rotation skipped, so Winckowski will step into the rotation for his first start since July 6. In nine appearances since moving to the bullpen, the 26-year-old right-hander hasn't worked more than 2.2 innings in any appearance and has allowed five earned runs while striking out five batters and walking six over 10.2 total frames. He'll be taking the hill Saturday on just two days' rest, so he'll likely be limited from a workload perspective and could end up being deployed in tandem with Brad Keller, who had been starting for Triple-A Worcester before being recalled Friday.

Richards earned the save during a 6-3 win over the Guardians in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. He struck out one in a perfect ninth inning.

After Jhoan Duran earned the save in the first game of the doubleheader, Richards got the call in the nightcap, setting down Cleveland in order to earn his first save of the year. It's a nice bounce-back effort from Richards, who allowed three runs while issuing five walks in just two-thirds of an inning in his last appearance. Overall, the 31-year-old Richards sports a 4.82 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 53:29 K:BB across 56 innings between the Twins and Blue Jays this year.

Green threw a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Athletics.

Green got the job done on only 11 pitches (six strikes). The 33-year-old continues to shine in the closer's role, securing all 11 of his save chances to go along with a 1.67 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 33:10 K:BB across 37.2 innings this season.

Brieske will serve as the Tigers' opener for Friday's contest against the Giants, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Brieske will technically be making his third start of the season Friday. He got roughed up in his last assignment as an opener against the Guardians on July 29, taking the loss while allowing three runs on five hits and striking out one batter across 0.2 frames. Both Brant Hurter and Kenta Maeda are options to serve in bulk relief once Brieske is done for the evening.

Schreiber (knee) threw a bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled to throw off a mound again Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Schreiber has been progressing well from a right knee patella tendon injury he sustained in late July. While he's feeling good from a pitching standpoint, he'll need to do more fielding work before the next step in his rehab is determined. Prior to the injury, Schreiber tallied a 4.14 ERA across 37.0 innings out of the bullpen.

Duran earned the save in a 4-2 win over the Guardians in the opening game of Friday's doubleheader. He allowed one hit while striking out three.

Duran struck out the first two batters on just seven pitches. He'd give up a two-out single to Will Brennan before rebounding to punch out Brayan Rocchio, closing out the Twins' two-run victory. It's the first time that Duran's logged three strikeouts in his 40 appearances this season -- his K/9 sits at 9.16 on the year after posting a 12.13 mark in 2023. Overall, the right-hander has converted 16 of 17 save chances with a 3.38 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 38:12 K:BB across 37.1 innings.

Mata (elbow/lat) played catch Friday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Mata was returned from his rehab assignment July 19 due to elbow inflammation and was shut down from throwing temporarily. While he's resumed a throwing program, Mata still appears to be multiple weeks away from returning.

The Red Sox recalled Keller from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Keller has allowed 10 runs over 16.2 frames during his time in Boston this season. He would seem to be a good bet to eat up some innings Saturday versus the Astros in what could be a bullpen game for the Red Sox.