MLB: Twins’ Ervin Santana may miss rest of season because of finger

Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana may miss the rest of the season while receiving a series of platelet rich plasma injections in the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Santana is 0-1 with a 8.03 ERA in five major league starts this season.

“He had one done,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said Saturday. “I think over a three-week period he’ll have that done three times.”

Santana had surgery Feb. 6 to remove a calcium deposit on the finger. He made his first minor league injury rehabilitation appearance May 23 and didn’t make his season debut for the Twins until July 25.

The two-time All-Star was still bothered by the finger and after five starts returned to the disabled list on Aug. 19.

Santana, 35, is in the final guaranteed season of a $55 million, four-year contract. The Twins have a $14 million option for next year with a $1 million buyout.

“I’m not really sure if the timing of when he picks up a ball will matter nearly as much as his ability to try to get through the winter and put himself in position to pitch again next spring,” Molitor said.

Santana is 149-125 with a 4.06 ERA in 14 major league seasons.

Pirates’ Gregory Polanco will miss the rest of the season

Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco, the team’s home run and RBIs leader, will miss the remainder of the season because of a bone bruise in his left knee.

Polanco was injured Friday night and left the Pirates’ 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning when he slid awkwardly into second base on a double. He also strained his left shoulder, Pittsburgh said Saturday.

He is hitting .254 with 23 homers and 81 RBIs. Polanco also had a team-high 61 extra-base hits.