Middleton exits with elbow pain, to have MRI

ANAHEIM -- Angels reliever Keynan Middleton was pulled in the eighth inning of the Halos' 2-1 victory over the Twins on Sunday with right elbow discomfort, manager Mike Scioscia said. Middleton will undergo an MRI on Monday.
"Fingers crossed, hopefully it's just a mild setback," Scioscia said.
Middleton retired Max Kepler with six pitches to induce a flyout to lead off the inning -- reaching 97 mph twice -- and retired Eduardo Escobar with a groundout before departing with a 1-1 count against Eddie Rosario. Middleton's two fastballs to Rosario were clocked at 88 and 93 mph. The average speed of his four-seam fastball this season is 96 mph.
Middleton, 23, returned Thursday from a stint on the disabled list for right elbow inflammation. He pitched a scoreless inning on both Thursday and Saturday before exiting after 12 pitches Sunday. He has a 2.04 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings this season.
Before his 13-game stay on the disabled list, Middleton was the de facto closer for the Halos. Cam Bedrosian and Jim Johnson have since each recorded a save, and nearly every reliever in the bullpen entered in high-leverage situations in Middleton's absence.