After giving up three hits, including a solo home run by Adam Duvall in the seventh inning, in a three-inning stint against the Reds on Sunday, Tyler Duffey was optioned back to Class AAA Rochester.
The lack of rested arms in the bullpen is the primary reason — Jose Berrios' three-inning start Sunday was the Twins' sixth in eight games to last fewer than five innings — but Duffey didn't pitch particularly well during his week with the Twins, either.
He gave up runs in all three outings, five of them while retiring only one batter Friday against the Reds, and leaves with a 13.50 ERA so far this year.
The Twins didn't reveal their new pitcher, but it's likely to be John Curtiss, the only Rochester reliever currently on their 40-man roster. Curtiss has struck out 17 batters in 9⅓ innings with the Red Wings this year, with only two walks; his ERA is 2.89 in five relief appearances.
The Twins received Rule 5 draft pick Luke Bard back from the Angels this weekend, but they would have to create a spot on the 40-man roster to promote the righthander to the majors.
Bard, a first-round pick in the 2012 draft, is with Rochester.
