Twins select reliever Boshers' contract

MINNEAPOLIS -- With the bullpen being overworked the last few weeks, the Twins opted to select the contract of lefty reliever Buddy Boshers on Wednesday, placing outfielder Darin Mastroianni on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. To make room for Boshers on the 40-man roster, closer Glen Perkins was transferred to the 60-day DL.
Boshers, who was signed to a Minor League deal in the offseason, posted a 1.42 ERA with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 19 innings with Triple-A Rochester. It's his first time in the Majors since 2013, when he posted a 4.70 ERA in 25 appearances with the Angels.
"I'm primarily a fastball-curveball guy," said Boshers, who has been working on a changeup. "My command [was good at Triple-A]. I was able to throw the ball where I wanted to and throw my breaking ball when I was behind in the count. That really helped my fastball get to where it needed to be."
Molitor said the move was made after Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana combined to go 6 1/3 innings over the last two games, causing the bullpen to be overworked. Molitor said he prefers a four-man bench with 13 position players, but that right now pitching depth is the priority.
"We need pitching, and we've talked about going to 13 for a while and it was expedited by our short starts the last couple days," Molitor said. "Buddy came over this winter and had a good spring, competing to the end. He has a nice left-handed mix. He attacks and gets left-handers out. He's done well down there and has been stretched out somewhat."
Mastroianni, who was 0-for-9 with two walks in seven games with the Twins since being called up on May 6, said he suffered the injury in Detroit last week. He said it continued to linger and that he felt it during early batting practice on Monday, causing him to shut it down on Tuesday. He's on the DL retroactive to Sunday, so he's eligible to be activated on June 6.
"I thought it wasn't really that big of a deal and played Saturday, and it felt OK," Mastroianni said. "There was some soreness, and it was a little tight. But Monday, I tried to swing and it didn't feel right. I couldn't really go. I tried to do what I could, but when you can't swing, it's just unfortunate. I've never had this before."
Perkins, meanwhile, is now eligible to return on June 10 after being placed on the 60-day with a strained left shoulder. It doesn't change his timeline, as he's set to resume his throwing program on Thursday after a setback last week, but he is roughly a week away from throwing off a mound. He'll also need a rehab assignment before returning.
"Pushing Glen to the 60-day from the 15 is probably not an issue in terms of timing," Molitor said. "Especially with him being pushed back roughly a week after suffering a repercussion last week while throwing."