Brian Fuentes (back) threw a successful bullpen session Saturday.

If Fuentes wakes up Sunday without any abnormal soreness, he will be cleared to again pitch out of the Twins' bullpen. The left-hander has been sidelined since September 1 due to lower back soreness.

Brian Fuentes (back) will have a bullpen session Saturday and could be available for games after that.

The lefty played catch in the outfield before Friday's game and felt great afterward. He has appeared in just one game for the Twins since being acquired on August 27.

An MRI on Brian Fuentes' back Wednesday showed no significant damage.

It sounds like the 35-year-old lefty is simply battling soreness. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday at about 70% effort and should be back to 100% by the weekend. Fuentes has a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 2010.

Brian Fuentes underwent an MRI on his sore back Wednesday.

Fuentes threw a bullpen session on Tuesday but used only about 70% effort and is still feeling a good deal of soreness in his back. It may be a few days before he is available out of the Twins' bullpen.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that Brian Fuentes (back) is still at least a day away from returning.

Fuentes threw a bullpen session Tuesday, as scheduled, however his back still feels a bit stiff. There's a chance he'll be ready Wednesday, but with the benefit of a scheduled off-day Thursday, the Twins may as well just wait until Friday.

Brian Fuentes' progress is slow in his recovery from a back injury.

"Probably another day [before Fuentes can pitch], at least," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Sunday. Fuentes hasn't pitched since August 28 because of the injury.

Brian Fuentes will miss another game Friday because of back tightness.

Fuentes said he is feeling better, so perhaps he'll be ready to go sometime this weekend.

Brian Fuentes (back) will likely miss the remaining two games of the series against the Tigers.

Fuentes was unavailable to pitch Tuesday because of back tightness. His back was feeling better Wednesday, but it sounds like it will be at least Friday until he's able to pitch again.

Brian Fuentes was unavailable to pitch Tuesday due to back tightness.

Fortunately, Randy Flores and Jesse Crain were able to bridge the gap to closer Matt Capps in his absence. Keep an eye on Fuentes' status, but he may need a couple days to rest.

Twins acquired LHP Brian Fuentes from the Angels for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

It's not known if the Angels are kicking in any of his remaining salary, though early reports suggest they aren't. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that Fuentes will set up for Matt Capps, but there's always the option to use him in the ninth inning if necessary. The 35-year-old left-hander has a 3.52 ERA and 23 saves in 39 appearances this season.

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal has taken back his earlier report and says Brian Fuentes has yet to be placed on waivers.

Rosenthal reported that Fuentes had been placed on waivers, claimed and pulled back. Since none of that has happened, there's still a chance the closer could be traded.

Brian Fuentes converted his sixth straight save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Tigers.

Fuentes is surprisingly in a real groove. He's been successful on 14 of his last 15 save opportunities and even has his ERA down to 3.51. Meanwhile, Fernando Rodney has seen his ERA swell to 4.03. Fuentes doesn't look like he's headed for a faceplant anytime soon.

Manager Mike Scioscia issued another vote of confidence to Brian Fuentes on Sunday.

This after a game in which Fuentes allowed three runs on four hits and a walk to the Cubs. He was inserted in the eighth inning of a game the Angels were losing -- so it didn't exactly hurt the team -- but his performance continues a disturbing trend of ineffectiveness and Fuentes now has a 6.23 for the season. "I don't think you're going to look at a reliever's ERA and grade him out on how he's doing - especially in a short relief role like Brian's," Scioscia said. "A couple bad outings and it's going to take a long time to get that ERA back where it needs to be." Fernando Rodney continues to be a better choice to close, making him a good roster stash in mixed leagues. Perhaps Scioscia will finally make the move if Fuentes implodes in a big spot in the near future.

Pitching for the first time since a very shaky save Thursday, Brian Fuentes struck out two in a perfect ninth Monday against the A's.

The strong showing in a two-run game earned him his eighth save. Fuentes gave up two runs while working with a three-run lead in his previous outing against the Royals.

Despite his 5.93 ERA and three blown saves, Brian Fuentes has earned manager Mike Scioscia's vote of confidence.

He hasn't blown as many saves as he could have given his ERA and WHIP, so the Angels can count their blessings for that. Fuentes has been shockingly home run prone for a closer, which is a sign for hope, as there's almost no way he'll continue to give up home runs on 23 percent of his flyballs. However, with Fernando Rodney waiting in the wings, it's hard to believe that Fuentes will be allowed to struggle for much longer.

Brian Fuentes recorded his seventh save despite giving up a two-run homer to the Royals' Willie Bloomquist on Thursday.

The Angels haven't been very good at generating save chances and Fuentes hasn't been very good at converting them, so this is his first in two weeks. He got it even though he allowed his fifth homer in just 13 2/3 innings this season. In his final year with the Rockies in 2008, he gave up a total of three homers in 62 2/3 innings.

Brian Fuentes picked up his sixth save of the season by working a perfect ninth inning on Thursday night.

Fuentes induced two fly outs and a weak grounder for the save. His job appears safe for now, but we know he can implode at any time. Fernando Rodney continues to wait patiently for his opportunity.

Brian Fuentes was shaky on Wednesday night but still managed to pick up his fifth save of the season.

Fuentes came in with a two-run lead and promptly allowed a big fly to Paul Konerko. The White Sox then got a single and a passed ball sandwiched between a couple of flyouts, but Fuentes slammed the door on Alexi Ramirez with a fastball to end the game. We're still stashing Fernando Rodney if we can as Fuentes grip on the job remains tenuous.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia stood behind Brian Fuentes as his closer on Tuesday.

"We all feel strongly about what the best look for our bullpen is," said Scioscia. "We need guys to set up, to close, and we want to give this [alignment] time to develop. All of our arms are important for us to shorten games. We'll shuffle the deck if we have to, but right now, we feel the way these guys are lined up now gives us our best look. It's a little premature to make wholesale changes." Fuentes' job appears safe for now, but it wouldn't be unwise to stash Fernando Rodney should he continue to struggle in the role.

Brian Fuentes blew a three-run lead Monday in the bottom of the ninth against the Rays.

After Fernando Rodney allowed a run in the eighth to make it a 4-1 game, Fuentes surrendered a homer to Willy Aybar, a single, a walk, a two-run double to Evan Longoria and a HBP before finally getting John Jaso to line out to center to end the ninth. But that's part of what comes from not being very good and also being rusty. Fuentes had pitched just twice in 12 days, since the Angels are still treating him as a true closer instead of as one of their three semi-valuable relievers.