MLB Player News

Freeland didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Rays, striking out seven and giving up two hits across six scoreless innings.

Freeland needed just 67 pitches to record 18 outs but was pulled after six innings as he builds up his pitch at the start of the season. The left-hander attacked the strike zone with 53 of his 67 offerings going for strikes. Freeland would like to forget his 2024 campaign in which he produced a bloated 5.24 ERA (his highest since 2019), and this was a great way to begin. His bullpen let him down late, however, costing him the win as the Rockies fell 3-2. Freeland is tentatively lined up for a tough matchup on the road at Philadelphia next week.

Kershaw (toe/knee) will face live hitters Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Saturday will mark the first time Kershaw has thrown against a live opponent since undergoing surgeries on his left knee and left big toe during the offseason. The Dodgers are going to progress the veteran lefty through his rehab slowly, but if all goes according to plan, he'll be able to head out on a rehab assignment by the end of May.

Pfaadt signed a five-year, $45 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks on Friday that includes a club option for 2031 and a mutual option for 2032, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Pfaadt's extension won't kick in until 2026, but it will buy out all three of his arbitration years and possibly his first three years of free agency if all options are exercised. The 26-year-old finished last season with a 4.71 ERA and 1.24 WHIP alongside a 185:42 K:BB in 181.2 innings (32 starts); however, his 3.60 FIP is much more indicative of how well he performed on the mound. His first start of the new year is slated to come Saturday versus the Cubs, against whom he allowed two earned runs over 14 innings with a 13:1 K:BB in two appearances last season.

Bello (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Bello missed all of spring training after straining his right shoulder in mid-February. He's made good progress in his throwing program and is slated to pitch at least two times during his rehab assignment with Worcester. There's optimism in Boston's clubhouse that Bello could return from the 15-day IL when first eligible April 11, which is when the Red Sox would begin a three-game road series against the White Sox.

Gonsolin (back) threw against live hitters Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Gonsolin began the season on the 15-day injured list after suffering a back injury while lifting weights in early March. Friday was the second time he's thrown to hitters, and he told reporters after his session that his next outing will go three innings either in another simulated game or while on a rehab assignment.

The Tigers transferred Madden (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

A right rotator cuff strain has kept Madden out since early March, and his move to the 60-day IL will ensure he remains out until late May. His spot on the 40-man roster will be given to Brewer Hicklen, who was acquired from Milwaukee on Friday.

Rodriguez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Rodriguez revealed afterward that it was the second time he's thrown from the mound since he received a cortisone shot for his right elbow inflammation. The right-hander is still relatively early on in a ramp-up process that is likely to take several more weeks, but he is moving in a positive direction.

Hence will begin the season on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis with a right rib cage strain, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

It's not clear how much time Hence might miss, but the good news is that the injury isn't related to his pitching arm. The 22-year-old has some of the best stuff in all of the minors but has struggled to stay healthy, having never reached 100 innings in a season. Hence posted a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames at Double-A Springfield in 2024.

The Rangers optioned Corbin to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Corbin signed a one-year deal with Texas on March 18, so rather than having him rush through his throwing progression, he will begin the year in the minors to continue building up at a more comfortable pace. He's expected to make two starts at Round Rock before potentially slotting into the Texas rotation for the team's series in Seattle that runs from April 11 through 13. Corbin is coming off a 2024 season with the Nationals in which he submitted a 5.62 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 174.2 innings.

The Rangers placed Bradford (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Bradford has been diagnosed with a left elbow sprain since being scratched from a Cactus League start March 12, with manager Bruce Bochy relaying that the southpaw would be shut down from throwing for four weeks. Even if Bradford is cleared to begin a throwing program by mid-April, he'll likely need at least another month to get stretched back out and complete a rehab assignment. Any setback along the way would make him a candidate to move to the 60-day IL.