MLB Player News

Kikuchi allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings in a no-decision against Toronto on Wednesday.

Kikuchi was ultra-efficient in the start, throwing 70 of 91 pitches for strikes -- a promising development given that he entered the game with a poor 4.7 BB/9. The lefty tossed five scoreless frames to begin the contest before giving up his lone run in the sixth. Kikuchi wasn't rewarded for his fine effort with a win, but he did notch his fourth quality start of the campaign and his first since April 9. The veteran hurler still doesn't have a victory this season, though his numbers have been tolerable -- he has a 3.83 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB over 42.1 frames spanning eight starts.

Baez went 2-for-5 with a run and four RBI in an 8-6, extra-inning win over the Rockies on Wednesday.

Both of Baez's hits were singles, but they were plenty productive, as each plated a pair of runs. The veteran infielder/outfielder is in the midst of a red-hot stretch at the plate -- he's hit safely in eight straight games, notching multiple hits in five of those contests. During the hitting streak, Baez is batting a scorching .424 (12-for-33) with three homers, 14 RBI, 10 runs and a stolen base.

Jobe allowed six runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 3.2 innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Wednesday.

Jobe was initially slated to start Tuesday, but his outing was pushed back one day due to a rainout. The rookie right-hander got off on the wrong foot against Colorado when Ryan McMahon tagged him for a two-run home run in the first inning, and Jobe gave up another two-run shot -- this time to Michael Toglia -- in the third. He was allowed to pitched into the fourth frame but got the hook after giving up another run on two hits in that inning. Jobe hadn't given up more than three runs in a start this season prior to Wednesday, so this was easily his worst appearance of the campaign. He'll look to bounce back in his next trip to the mound, which tentatively lines up to come against Boston next week.

Laureano went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a loss to the Twins.

Laureano notched Baltimore's only two extra-base hits in the contest, slugging a solo homer in the third inning and adding a double in the fifth. The long ball snapped an 11-game homerless stretch for the veteran outfielder, whose only three other home runs came during a three-game stretch in mid-April. Laureano has supplied a bit of power but has otherwise had a tough season at the plate, slashing .207/.254/.483 with a 30.2 percent strikeout rate through 63 plate appearances.

Bader (illness) slugged a two-run home run as a pinch hitter in a 5-2 win against the Orioles on Wednesday.

Bader began the game on the bench for the second day in a row due to an illness. However, he felt well enough to pinch hit in the seventh inning, and the veteran outfielder provided Minnesota with some big insurance runs on a two-run blast to left field. Bader remained in the game to play defense after hitting the long ball, so he seems likely to return to the starting lineup soon -- possibly Thursday for the final game of the series.

Buxton went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Baltimore.

Buxton gave the Twins their first lead with a three-run blast off Charlie Morton in the third inning. It was the veteran outfielder's third straight game with a homer, and he now has eight RBI over that stretch. Buxton also extended his hitting streak to seven contests, a span during which he's batting .400 (12-for-30) with four extra-base hits.

Morton (0-7) took the loss against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over four innings.

After being demoted to a bulk-relief and then a bullpen role in late April, Morton was given another chance to start Wednesday since the Twins needed to fill a rotation spot. The veteran righty actually fared slightly better than he had in his previous five starts -- the three runs were the fewest he's given up in a starting appearance so far this season, and he walked just one batter -- but that's not saying much since he lasted only four frames and took his MLB-worst seventh loss. Given Morton's 9.38 ERA through 31.2 innings on the campaign, there's ample reason to believe that Father Time may have finally caught up to the 41-year-old. With starter Zach Eflin (lat) slated to be activated from the injured list this weekend, it's likely that Morton will head back to the bullpen.

Duran struck out all three batters he faced to earn a save against the Orioles on Wednesday.

With Minnesota holding a three-run lead heading into the ninth inning, Duran was summoned to close things out. He did so in impressive fashion, throwing 11 of 14 pitches for strikes and fanning the side in order. After a lack of opportunities limited Duran to just two saves in April, he's already notched three saves through the first week of May. The right-hander has been impressive this season with a 1.10 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB over 16.1 innings.

Woods Richardson tossed 4.2 innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter.

Woods Richardson had control issues in the outing, throwing just 33 of 61 pitches for strikes. Still, he walked only one batter and allowed just one run through four frames. The right-hander retired the first two batters he faced in the fifth, but after Baltimore then strung together three straight hits for a run, Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli elected to pull Woods Richardson rather than give him another chance to get the final out he needed to qualify for a win. It was the second straight start in which Woods Richardson has gone exactly 4.2 frames, and he's completed fewer than five innings in three of his past four appearances, which doesn't shine a positive light on his current fantasy appeal.

Witt went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.

Although Witt is batting just .250 over 28 at-bats so far in May, he's beginning to heat up in the power department. The All-Star shortstop has two doubles, three homers and nine RBI to go with three walks and two stolen bases over his last seven games. Witt didn't have any long balls in his final 14 outings in April, so he's certainly starting to get back on track when it comes to slugging.