Samuel Deduno held the Tigers to three runs over six innings in Sunday's 4-3 victory. He struck out five while allowing six hits and walking one. Deduno was in line for the loss after exiting with his team trailing 3-0, but the Twins' offense rallied with four late-inning runs. The righty has given up six earned runs over 11 frames since entering the rotation. He'll get the Mariners next weekend.

Samuel Deduno fell to 0-2 with Tuesday's start against the Indians in which he allowed four runs (three earned) in five innings of work. Deduno recently moved into the Twins' rotation, filling in for the injured Mike Pelfrey. Tuesday's start wasn't a particularly strong outing, but it wasn't disastrous either, which should give him at least one or two more starts to prove himself. The right-ahnder allowed six hits, walked two, and struck out two in the effort. If the Twins send him back out on schedule, Deduno will face the Tigers on the road.

Samuel Deduno will start on Tuesday in Cleveland. He's taking the rotation spot of the injured Mike Pelfrey (groin). Pelfrey was about to lose his rotation spot due to performance, anyway, so Deduno can stake claim to a rotation spot if he pitches well. He holds a 2.89 ERA in seven relief appearances this season, though that's also come along with a 1.55 WHIP.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire indicated Thursday that Samuel Deduno could slide into the rotation in Mike Pelfrey's place. Pelfrey holds a 7.99 ERA over his first five starts and has yet to go more than 5 1/3 innings in any outing. Deduno struggled in four relief innings after Pelfrey Thursday but holds a 2.89 ERA overall. "Sammy is fine," Gardenhire said. "He just has to get into a routine, too. We stretched him out pretty good today and we'll make a decision here."

Samuel Deduno struck out five in two perfect innings out of the pen Friday against the Red Sox. One of the strikeouts was bogus: Jonny Gomes checked his swing in plenty of time on what would have been ball four, but umpire Tim Timmons just wanted the game over with at that point. Still, that's not to take anything away from Deduno. He deserved to open the season in Minnesota's rotation, but he'll head off to middle relief to await his next opportunity.

Samuel Deduno surrendered two runs in 2 2/3 innings out of the pen Wednesday against the Cardinals. It was the first poor outing of the spring for Deduno, who came in with a 0.93 ERA in 9 2/3 innings. He still hasn't gotten to start in any of his five appearances, which could be telling. He's the Twins' best option for the fifth spot in the rotation, but he might be sentenced to middle relief initially anyway.

Samuel Deduno pitched three hitless innings out of the pen Thursday against the Red Sox. It's odd that the Twins still haven't given Deduno a start this spring, even though he should have been the favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation going in and he's continued to set himself apart from the competition since the exhibition season began. He's allowed just one run and five hits in 12 2/3 innings.

Samuel Deduno is "the biggest beneficiary" of Ervin Santana's decision to sign in Atlanta, writes Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Twins reportedly offered Santana a three-year deal worth between $30 to $33 million but refused to go to four years. Instead, the right-hander took $14.1 million for one season from the Braves, a decision that might seal Deduno's gig as Minnesota's fifth starter. The 30-year-old Dominican is coming off a career-best season after going 8-8 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 67/41 K/BB ratio in 108 innings (18 starts) in 2013. He's logged a 1.35 ERA with a .227 batting average allowed over 6 2/3 frames this spring. Deduno should be considered the heavy favorite for the Twins' last open rotation spot, but he still needs to fend off Vance Worley, Scott Diamond and Kyle Gibson.

Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports that Samuel Deduno "appears to be the slight favorite" to land the final spot in the Twins' rotation. He has a fight on his hands, though, with Vance Worley, Scott Diamond and Kyle Gibson all in the running for the spot. Deduno has the leg up after posting a 3.83 ERA last year with Twins, and he has only helped himself this spring with a 1.35 mark in Grapefruit League action. Fantasy owners would like to see Gibson get a shot, as he has the highest upside of the group. However, he's also the least experienced and has options left.

Samuel Deduno pitched two scoreless innings out of the pen and struck out three in the Twins' 8-2 drubbing of the Red Sox on Friday. The Twins have threatened to eject Deduno from the rotation with all of their signings, but as is, he should be the clear favorite for the fifth spot. He was their best pitcher while healthy last year, finishing with a 3.83 ERA in 18 starts.