MLB Player News

Freeland agreed Tuesday with the Rockies on a five-year, $64.5 million contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The deal also includes a player option for 2027.

Freeland and the Rockies had been scheduled for an arbitration hearing in late May following their failure to agree to a deal in spring training, but after further discussions, the two sides were able to find common ground on a long-term pact. As a Colorado native, Freeland likely has more interest in pitching at altitude in Coors Field than the majority of established starters around the league, so it made sense for the Rockies to keep the homegrown starter on the books through at least the 2026 season. Freeland has been blitzed for 10 runs across nine innings in his first two starts of 2022, but he was effective for most of his first five seasons in the majors after factoring in his unfavorable home environment. He turned in ERA- marks of 91 or lower in four of the past five seasons, with 100 being the league average after accounting for park factors. Now that he's resolved his contract situation, Freeland will return to the mound to make his third start of the season Tuesday against the Phillies at Coors Field.

Atlanta recalled Toussaint from Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Toussaint and Dylan Lee will both join Atlanta in Los Angeles for the second game of the team's series with the Dodgers, giving the bullpen a fresh pair of arms after starter Huascar Ynoa lasted just 3.2 innings in Monday's 7-4 loss. Ynoa was demoted to Gwinnett in a corresponding move, but Toussaint isn't expected to get a look in the rotation in his place. Instead, Atlanta will likely condense from a six-man rotation to a five-man setup, with Kyle Wright and Bryce Elder occupying the back-end spots.

Atlanta optioned Ynoa to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

The demotion is an unwelcome development for fantasy managers hoping to get a two-start week out of Ynoa, who took the hill for Atlanta's series opener in Los Angeles on Monday. Unfortunately, the right-hander labored through 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on four hits and four walks en route to taking his second loss in as many starts this season. Since opening the 2021 campaign with a 2.23 ERA and 0.89 WHIP through his first seven starts and then being shut down for an extended period with a broken hand, Ynoa hasn't re-emerged as a reliable rotation option for Atlanta. The reigning World Series champions had recently added Bryce Elder to the mix as a sixth starter, so Atlanta will likely just condense to a five-man rotation now that Ynoa is headed to the minors.

Washington manager Dave Martinez said Tuesday that Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) remains limited to throwing off a mound and hasn't advanced to facing hitters in live batting practice, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Shortly before Opening Day, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reported that Strasburg was scheduled to face hitters within a week, but the Nationals have seemingly slowed down his rehab timeline. Though the Nationals haven't indicated that Strasburg is experiencing any setbacks in his recovery from the surgery he underwent last July, the organization has reason to proceed cautiously with a pitcher who is in the third season of a seven-year, $245 million contract and has a checkered medical history. Once he's cleared to face hitters, Strasburg will likely need three or four weeks to build up his pitch count through simulated games and/or a minor-league rehab assignment, so he shouldn't be expected to make his 2022 debut for the Nationals until the second half of May at the earliest.

Adon is scheduled to start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Diamondbacks, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

After the Nationals' series opener with the Diamondbacks was postponed Monday due to inclement weather, Josiah Gray was pushed back a day in the pitching schedule and will take the hill for the first game of the twin bill. Though Adon will stay on his normal schedule to pitch the nightcap Tuesday, he'll likely be passed over for a second start this week in favor of Gray. With Gray expected to get the ball Sunday against the Giants on his normal four days' rest, Adon is unlikely to make his fourth start of the season until early next week against the Marlins.

Gray is scheduled to start the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Diamondbacks, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

After his scheduled start Monday was postponed due to rain in Washington, Gray will get pushed back one day to take the hill during the twin bill. Joan Adon is slated to start the nightcap, which will leave both him and Gray on their normal four days' rest heading into Sunday's home game against the Giants. Expect Gray to pick up his second start of the week that day, while Adon likely won't make his next turn through the rotation until early next week.

Lauer (1-0) picked up the win in Monday's 6-1 victory over the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

A fourth-inning solo shot by Diego Castillo was the only blemish on his line. Lauer tossed 64 of 87 pitches for strikes in the quality start. The 26-year-old southpaw has had a solid start to the season with a 3.48 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB through 10.1 innings, though it should be noted his two starts came against marginal opposition in the Bucs and O's.

Ynoa (0-2) completed 3.2 innings against the Dodgers on Monday, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four. He was charged with the loss.

The right-hander struggled with his control in the contest, issuing four walks and throwing only 40 of 75 pitches for strikes. When he did get the ball over the plate, the Dodgers largely capitalized, knocking a pair of extra-base hits against him, including a Freddie Freeman solo homer in the first inning. Ynoa showed some promise with a 4.05 ERA and 100:25 K:BB last season, but he hasn't pitched well in 2022, allowing 10 earned runs and posting an 8:6 K:BB across 6.2 frames. He'll try to turn things around in his next start, which is tentatively slated to come at home against Miami on Sunday.

Kershaw (2-0) earned the win over Atlanta on Monday, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out seven over five innings.

The future Hall of Famer hurled seven perfect innings in his season debut last week, and through four scoreless frames Monday it looked like he would cruise to another dominant performance. Atlanta got to him for a run on a Guillermo Heredia homer in the fifth inning, however, then chased Kershaw after leading off the sixth with three straight hits. Los Angeles' bullpen was able to stem the tide, though, helping the left-hander to his second straight victory to begin the season. Despite finishing with four earned runs, there was plenty to like about Kershaw's performance, as he upped his season K:BB to 20:0 over 12 innings and induced 11 swinging strikes. He'll get the chance to continue to his standout start to the campaign this weekend in a scheduled start in San Diego.

Lodolo (0-2) took the loss against San Diego on Monday, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight.

Lodolo has lost each of his first two big-league starts, but he showed some improvement in his second appearance Monday. The left-hander went one inning deeper and exited having given up fewer hits, runs and walks while doubling his strikeout total from four to eight in comparison to his big-league debut. Lodolo also threw 18 first-pitch strikes (to 23 batters) and registered 16 swings-and-misses Monday. He'll try to grab his elusive first win in his next start, which is tentatively slated to come at home against St. Louis on Sunday.