MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added that Rodríguez will aim for roughly 30-35 pitches in his second rehab outing. The 27-year-old figures to return as a multi-inning reliever after hitting the injured list in late April due to back inflammation.

Bride gives Minnesota some immediate help at multiple spots with Willi Castro (oblique), Matt Wallner (hamstring) and Carlos Correa (wrist) dealing with injuries. The 29-year-old infielder was removed from Miami’s 40-man roster earlier this week after going 4-for-40 in 12 games to open the year.

Who doesn’t love an early-season trade. It’s the type of deal that benefits both sides as Pittsburgh fortifies their catching situation at Triple-A Indianapolis in the wake of an injury to Endy Rodríguez (finger) at the big-league level. The versatile 31-year-old has gotten into 40 games over the last two years with the Padres. He went unclaimed last month after being removed from San Diego’s 40-man roster.

Johnson got into 47 games last year for San Diego and provides them with some emergency center field depth at Triple-A El Paso with both Jackson Merrill (hamstring) and Brandon Lockridge (hamstring) on the injured list. He’s a decent defender with plus speed, which makes him a decent bench option, but he offers virtually nothing at the dish from an offensive standpoint.

Loáisiga is a couple throwing sessions away from heading out on a minor league rehab assignment. The 30-year-old reliever should be ready to join New York’s relief mix at some point in late May or early June.

Center fielder Tyrone Taylor came in very aggressively on the liner, hoping to throw out Byron Buxton at the plate, but it went off his glove on a hop. It was France’s lone hit in five at-bats. He was the Twins’ No. 3 hitter today, making this five different lineup spots (third through seventh) in five games for him. Maybe he’ll bat second Friday.

Festa was pulled after two singles, a strikeout and then a hit by pitch opened the fifth. Danny Coulombe replaced him then and got Juan Soto to hit into an inning-ending double play, keeping the game scoreless. Festa struck out six and walked one while throwing 76 pitches. Those rostering him were probably annoyed with the quick hook, especially after the Twins could have put him in line for the win by scoring in the bottom of the fifth, but it really did seem like the right call. Festa will face the White Sox next, making him a pretty good streaming play.

After entering with a 3-0 lead, Jax gave up two doubles and two singles before a fantastic catch from Harrison Bader spared him even more damage. It was his second blown save, with the other coming in the ninth after he was picked over Jhoan Duran to close on Apr. 6. Jax is throwing just as hard and missing as many bats as ever, but he’s surrendered a lot of loud contact in the early going. It’s bad news for the Twins, but good news for those who drafted Durán as their top closer. Duran pitched a scoreless ninth in a tie game today.

Pitching behind an opened, Hagenman came in to start the second and worked three scoreless frames before getting into trouble in the fifth. He was quickly lifted then, ending his day with four strikeouts and no walks. He’ll likely head back to Triple-A now, but the fine showing will help keep him in the mix for callups going forward.

Rocco Baldelli indicated that his wrist injury dates back to before him leaving Tuesday’s game, but that it’s not a source of concern. Still, Baldelli didn’t want Correa hitting today, and he probably wouldn’t have used Correa at all if Willi Castro hadn’t gotten hurt.

That’s a rare line from Soto. It’s his 20th career three-strikeout game, but just the third time he’s combined that and an 0-for-5. Even worse, one of his non-strikeouts today saw him ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in a scoreless game in the fifth. Soto homered Monday and Tuesday, but those are his only hits in the last five games, and his average has sunk to .231.