Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) will make his next appearance on his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, with his outing pushed back a day due to rain on Friday. It's a small hitch in the road for Duran on his way back from a strained right oblique, as he still figures to have a chance re-enter Minnesota's bullpen and be activated from the injured list as early as Monday's series opener on the road against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. Right-hander Griffin Jax's run as manager Rocco Baldelli's preferred ninth-inning man appears to be nearing a close, but he's submitted a strong 2.53 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 15:3 K:BB in 10 2/3 innings while converting four of his five save chances for the Twins in Duran's stead. Fantasy managers should look to sell high on Jax while his value is still heightened.

Minnesota Twins reliever Jhoan Duran (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A St. Paul. The fireballer recently threw a live batting practice without any discomfort and will now begin the next step in his recovery. Duran will likely be able to return to the majors within the next couple weeks, assuming there are no setbacks. The 26-year-old should be rostered in all fantasy formats as he offers high-end upside as a closer. He may not resume his ninth-inning duties right away for the Twins, but there is no doubt that he will return to closing at some point in the near future.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) threw 21 pitches of live batting practice before Friday's game at Target Field against the Detroit Tigers and didn't feel any discomfort. Duran is close to embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. "He was supposed to throw 20 and he wanted an extra one, so that tells you he's feeling good," manager Rocco Baldelli said. Once the 26-year-old goes on a rehab assignment, it might not be long before Duran is able to make his 2024 debut. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats despite getting a late start to the season. While Duran can be a high-end fantasy closer when he's healthy, don't be surprised if the Twins ease him into late-inning situations when he initially returns to the big-league bullpen.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) said he's feeling closer to 100 percent in terms of command after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He's now expected to face live hitters during Friday's pre-game workouts at Target Field. An oblique strain forced the 26-year-old to the injured list to begin the 2024 season, but he recently started throwing off a mound and could be getting close to going on a short minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the Twins' bullpen. If he avoids any setbacks with his oblique, fantasy managers might get the hard-throwing closer back before the calendar flips to May. Given Duran's dominance when healthy, he should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. In his absence, Minnesota is going with a committee approach to saves involving Griffin Jax, Steven Okert, Cole Sands and Brock Stewart.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (oblique) is set to throw a bullpen session ahead of Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. The right-hander continues to work his way back from an oblique strain that has sidelined him since the start of the season. The 26-year-old could progress to facing live hitters if Tuesday's session goes well. The hope is that Duran can be back on the mound for the Twins by the start of May. In the meantime, the Twins are likely to continue using a committee approach in the ninth inning. Out of everyone, Griffin Jax appears to be the favorite to get saves while Duran is out.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (oblique) reportedly felt good during his bullpen session on Friday. The right-hander continues working his way back from an oblique injury that has sidelined him since the end of spring training. It sounds like the plan is for Duran to throw again on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is likely still a few weeks away from getting back on the mound for the Twins. Until then, the Twins are likely to go closer by committee with Griffin Jax being the favorite to get saves.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) is itching to get back out there and said he's hoping to throw his first bullpen session on Friday. Duran was forced to open the 2024 regular season on the injured list with an oblique injury, but he's been throwing pain-free on flat ground and is getting close to throwing off a mound. Once he gets there, the 26-year-old might not need long before he's able to make his season debut for the Twins. Duran should be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues and stashed in an IL spot in the meantime. The Dominican hurler will be the Twins' unquestioned closer when he's back after posting a 2.15 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, 35 saves, 41 walks and 173 strikeouts in 130 innings in his first two big-league seasons.

Minnesota Twins pitchers Jhoan Duran (oblique) and Justin Topa (knee) are both pain-free and have been throwing, but neither of them have resumed throwing off a mound yet. Duran threw from 105 feet on Saturday, while Topa threw from 75 feet. Meanwhile, reliever Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Saturday and seems bound for a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul soon. Duran, the Twins' closer, is on the 15-day injured list due to a moderate right-oblique strain he suffered in spring training. Fantasy managers should expect the 26-year-old to miss most, if not all, of April, but he should remain stashed in an IL spot in all leagues. Until Duran can make his 2024 debut, Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart could both be candidates for save chances.

Minnesota Twins reliever Jhoan Duran (oblique) will begin the season on the injured list due to a moderate oblique strain, according to president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. The fireballer has endured a rough spring as he sports an 11.57 ERA with four strikeouts and 10 hits allowed across five appearances and 4 2/3 innings of work. He also sports a 2.36 WHIP, although he has not allowed a home run. However, the 26-year-old has been nothing short of stellar in his young big-league career, working to a tidy 2.15 ERA alongside a dynamite 25.3% K-BB% across 116 appearances through his first two seasons. He has averaged a whopping 101.3 mph on his four-seam fastball in that time and is one of the top closers in fantasy baseball despite what could be a minimum stay on the injured list to begin the season.

Minnesota Twins Opening Day starter Pablo Lopez and closer Jhoan Duran were beat up in the team's 12-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. In total, Twins pitchers allowed 17 hits. Lopez, who struck out two and gave up three hits in his two innings of work, surrendered a two-run homer to infielder Ramon Urias. Fantasy managers should take spring results with a grain of salt. Duran, a 26-year-old Dominican reliever, saved a career-high 27 games for the Twins in 2023 and has been excellent in his two seasons in Minnesota, sporting a 2.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 35 saves, 41 walks and 173 K's in 130 relief innings. He's also one of the league's hardest throwers, as he led baseball with 473 pitches thrown at or above 100 mph. Not only does Duran strike out a lot of hitters, but he also keeps the ball on the ground. He is RotoBaller's fourth-ranked fantasy closer.

Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Jhoan Duran shut the door on the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday, tossing a clean ninth inning to secure a 3-0 victory. Duran allowed just a single and didn't strike anyone out. The 25-year-old has now gone three straight appearances without allowing a run after a rough patch where he allowed six runs in four appearances, so he seems to be back on track. As the closer for a solid Twins team who has good numbers across the board, Duran is a top-10 fantasy option out of the bullpen.

It wasn't clean, but Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran was able to secure his 18th save of the season in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals. Duran entered to pitch the ninth inning up by two. He got the first out on a groundout, allowed a solo home run, and got the final two outs on strikeouts. The 25-year-old flamethrower has been consistent throughout the season, converting all but four save opportunities with a 2.81 ERA and a 12.31 K/9 rate.

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that closer Jhoan Duran won't be available to pitch on Monday night for the start of a series against the Seattle Mariners. "Duran's not pitching today. I don't think that's a secret. I mean, if anyone thought he might be pitching today, that would interest me and I'd like to talk to that person," Baldelli said. Duran isn't injured, but he won't be available on Monday after pitching in the last three games against the Oakland Athletics. The 25-year-old right-hander has been solid for the Twins and fantasy managers this year with a 2.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, a career-high 15 saves and 47 strikeouts in 37 1/3 relief innings. If a save situation arises for Minnesota on Monday, Griffin Jax is the most likely candidate to get a save opp.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran has been extremely busy over the weekend. The 25-year-old was called upon for the third consecutive game on Sunday. The right-hander saved the two previous contests and attempted to record a third straight. Duran pitched well, allowing a one-out double to Shea Langeliers, but battled back and earned his 15th save of the season. He holds a strong 2.17 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 47/15 K/BB ratio across 37 1/3 innings this season.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran only fired eight ninth-inning pitches to take care of the Baltimore Orioles and preserve a 1-0 shutout win for his 12th save of the campaign. The 25-year-old induced a Cedric Mullins pop-out and allowed a seemingly harmless Adley Rutschman chopper, but Jorge Mateo pinch-ran for the catcher and stole second base to get the tying run in scoring position. Right fielder Max Kepler made a praiseworthy sliding catch near foul ground to retire Anthony Santander as he gave one a ride. Finally, Ryan O'Hearn would ground out to end the game. The fire-balling Duran carries a terrific 1.41 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 42:14 K:BB across 32 innings as the Twins closer this season.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran picked up his first win of the season in Monday's 7-5 extra-innings win over the Astros. Duran came in to pitch the ninth inning with the game tied 5-5. He allowed a leadoff single but then induced a groundball double-play and a lineout to end the inning. He stayed in to pitch the 10th up by two and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts. The 25-year-old flamethrower has been a solid fantasy contributor to this point, converting seven of eight save opportunities with a 1.27 ERA, 12.23 K/9 rate, and 3.80 BB/9 rate.

In Friday's game against the Guardians, Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran stepped onto the mound in the ninth inning to help secure a 2-0 victory. Duran prevented the Guardians from scoring, striking out two batters and walking one while earning the save. He hurled 18 pitches to complete the close, four of which were swinging strikes. In the 2023 season, the 25-year-old reliever has a record of 0-1 with a 2.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, seven saves, and 16 strikeouts across 12 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran is questionable for Friday's matchup with the Kansas City Royals due to an immigration appointment, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. The right-hander's been electric this season, pitching to a 1.93 ERA with 13 strikeouts and five saves so far through 9.1 innings. If he is unavailable, expect Jorge Lopez to take over closing duties in his absence. The 30-year-old hasn't allowed a run to score over 10.2 innings, with nine strikeouts and no walks, while picking up one save. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineup accordingly and can stream Lopez if he's still on the waiver wire.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jhoan Duran notched his fifth save of the 2023 season on Sunday when his club defeated the Washington Nationals 3-1. He threw a perfect ninth inning while striking out one batter. Duran improved on his already impressive numbers and now owns a 2.45 ERA, 38.5% strikeout rate, 7.7% walk rate, and 0.85 WHIP. The 25-year-old has done nothing but shut down big league hitters since making his debut last season, and it looks like he's earned the closer role, as he's the only arm in the Twins bullpen with multiple saves.