Thielbar (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout to earn the win in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Thielbar worked the fifth and sixth innings after starter Ben Brown covered the first four frames. That set the lefty reliever up for his first win in a Chicago uniform. Thielbar allowed two runs in his third appearance of the year, but since then, the veteran reliever has only allowed two total runs across 6.1 innings in seven appearances. His fantasy upside is limited, however, as a middle-relief option for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Receives MLB deal from Cubs
Rotowire
The Cubs signed Thielbar to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Thielbar will turn 38 in January and had a down 2024 season, posting a 5.32 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 53:24 K:BB over 47.1 innings. However, he boasted a 30.6 percent strikeout rate and 7.0 percent walk rate from 2021 to 2023, so the left-handed reliever seems like a fine gamble on a one-year deal.
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.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Encouraging outing
Rotowire
Thielbar threw 1.1 scoreless innings without a strikeout or walk Thursday against Arizona.
It was a confidence-building performance for Thielbar, who has struggled in June. Thielbar allowed nine runs (seven earned) and eight hits in his previous 3.2 innings over seven games. He had seemingly lost the ability to control his looping curveball, but he looked back to form Thursday. He's been limited to lower-leverage chances while he works out of his slump.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Lands another save
Rotowire
Thielbar earned the save Monday against the White Sox, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts over a scoreless inning.
Theilbar followed both Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart for his second save in as many appearances. However, with Jhoan Duran (oblique) expected to be activated Tuesday after an IL stint, Thielbar will likely return to a middle relief role.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Converts first save
Rotowire
Thielbar allowed a hit and recorded one out to pick up a save over the Angels on Friday.
Thielbar entered a 5-2 game with two outs and two runners on base. He gave up an RBI single to Zach Neto -- which was charged to Matt Bowman -- before closing out the contest. It was Thielbar's first save of the season and he was used to get the final batter with both Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart having thrown the past two games. He now owns a 10.38 ERA with 4:2 K:BB through 4.1 frames, but has improved after struggling in his first four outings after coming back from a hamstring injury. He's thrown 1.1 scoreless innings in his last two outings.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
The Twins activated Thielbar (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Thielbar opened the season on the injured list with a hamstring strain but is ready to join the big club after two rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul. The left-hander recorded 14 holds and had a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB across 30.2 innings last season, and he should fill a high-leverage role for the Twins now that he's healthy.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Sharp in second rehab appearance
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) gave up a home run with four strikeouts and no walks over two innings Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul. He could be activated from the injured list this weekend, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Theilbar has made two appearances for St. Paul during his rehab stint and given up one run over three innings with a 5:1 K:BB. The Twins had indicated they wanted him to make two rehab appearances as he completes his recovery from a hamstring strain, so he looks ready to return.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live session Saturday and is progressing towards a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Thielbar started the season on the 15-day injured list after missing spring training action due to a left hamstring strain. In 2023 with the Twins, Thielbar posted a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 ERA and 36:6 K:BB over 30.2 innings.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Slated to open on IL
Rotowire
Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Thielbar (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Thielbar had a setback with his left hamstring during Saturday's live batting practice session. There's no timetable at this juncture for the left-handed reliever's return. It's a blow to a bullpen that will also be without Jhoan Duran (oblique) at the start of the season.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Still not running full speed
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) still isn't able to run at full speed, but he believes he'll be ready for Opening Day, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He threw another batting practice session Tuesday.
It's a little worrisome he can't run at full speed, but it sounds like he has enough time to be ready for the start of the season. He will try to progress to appearing in a spring game in the next week. Thielbar is an impact reliever who will serve in the setup corps for the Twins again this season.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Faces hitters
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Saturday, MLB.com reports. "I don't know exact timeline, but I anticipate being just fine for the second half of March at least to get into some games and be ready to go," Thielbar said afterward.
The Twins could have Thielbar throw one more live BP session before turning him loose in a game setting for his Grapefruit League debut, but the reliever still looks on pace to be ready for Opening Day. Thielbar, who is recovering from a left hamstring strain, turned in a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB while collecting 14 holds and three wins in 30.2 innings out of the Minnesota bullpen in 2023.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Nursing hamstring strain
Rotowire
Thielbar is dealing with a left hamstring strain and is throwing a bullpen session Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.comreports.
The left-hander's start to spring training has been slowed by the injury, but it's encouraging he's now throwing off a mound. Thielbar is scheduled for a live bullpen session next week and should then work through his standard spring buildup.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Avoids arbitration with Minnesota
Rotowire
The Twins and Thielbar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.225 million contract Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Thielbar was arbitration-eligible for the third and final time. The left-handed reliever missed some time with injury in 2023 but was highly successful when on the bump, contributing a 3.23 ERA and 36:6 K:BB over 30.2 frames. He'll be a setup man again in 2024.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: On track for activation Tuesday
Rotowire
Thielbar (oblique) will make a final rehab appearance for Triple-A St. Paul this weekend before rejoining the Twins early next week in St. Louis, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The Twins have been without their key left-hander for nearly three months due to a nagging oblique issue. Thielbar has had one scoreless rehab outing for St. Paul and will have a final tune-up this weekend before being activated.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Set for live batting practice
Rotowire
Thielbar (oblique) threw a bullpen session Thursday and will pitch live batting practice Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The Twins are expected to make plans for a rehab assignment after Saturday's throwing session. It's possible Thielbar could return in early August.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Throws off mound
Rotowire
Thielbar (oblique) threw a bullpen session Friday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Thielbar threw 16 pitches during his session with a velocity of roughly 85 mph. He said afterwards that he was pleased with his performance, though there is still quite a bit of work yet to be done. Thielbar has been on the shelf since June 9 and is expected to return shortly after the All-Star break.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Begins throwing
Rotowire
Thielbar (right oblique strain) has started throwing, but is not expected to return until after the All-Star break, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Thielbar missed more than a month with an oblique strain and aggravated the injury in his first appearance back from the injured list. Expect the Twins to be cautious with his return as a result, so his comeback may stretch into late July.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Headed back to IL
Rotowire
Thielbar was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right oblique strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Thielbar returned from the same injury this past weekend and made just one appearance before evidently suffering a setback. He missed more than a month with the issue the first time around. Josh Winder is taking Thielbar's spot in the bullpen.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Activated off injured list
Rotowire
Minnesota activated Thielbar (oblique) on Sunday off the 15-day injured list.
Thielbar fired two scoreless rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul, and while he wasn't activated as expected before Friday's game against the Guardians, the left-hander will now get a chance to be a mid-innings option for the Minnesota bullpen. Cole Sands (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day IL in the corresponding transaction.
