MLB Player News

Freeland (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Rockies were downed 7-2 by the Reds, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Making his return from a three-week absence due to shoulder trouble, Freeland got ambushed for three runs in the first inning before settling down, including a two-run shot by Spencer Steer. The veteran southpaw sports a still-respectable 3.48 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB through 20.2 innings, and he'll look to rebound in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against Atlanta.

Lauer is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in Toronto, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Lauer had been banished to the bullpen last week after logging a 6.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 22.2 innings over his first five appearances (four starts) on the season, but he'll get another look in the rotation after the Blue Jays lost Max Scherzer (forearm/ankle) to the injured list Monday. The southpaw's upcoming run in the rotation could be brief, as Jose Berrios (elbow) has already made three rehab starts and may be ready to return from the IL the next time Toronto requires a fifth starter.

Acuna went 2-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Tigers.

Acuna led off the bottom of the first with a double and then doubled home a run in the third inning, getting the best of Casey Mize both times before the right-hander was lifted with groin tightness. Acuna has posted back-to-back two-hit games, as his bat is starting to heat up after an extremely slow start to the season. He's slashing .248/.360/.381 with just two homers, nine RBI, 15 runs scored, six stolen bases and an 18:26 BB:K across 136 plate appearances.

Helsley worked a perfect ninth inning Tuesday without striking anyone out to record his seventh save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Astros.

Two flyouts and a failed bunt attempt by Jose Altuve got the job done for Helsley, who's a perfect 7-for-7 in converting save chances to begin the year. The right-hander appears to have put last season's troubles with the Mets mostly behind him, and through 10.2 innings for the Orioles he's delivered a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB.

Perez (2-1) picked up the win Tuesday against the Tigers, allowing two hits and four walks with five strikeouts across five shutout innings.

Perez's five strikeouts and four walks were both his most in a game this season. The veteran left-hander was tagged for four runs against the Diamondbacks on April 5 but has otherwise held opponents to two runs or fewer in his five other appearances. He kept the Tigers at bay with a heavy dose of changeups, throwing it more than 37 percent of the time Tuesday. Perez has a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 19:10 K:BB across 28.1 innings this season. With Spencer Strider (oblique) set for his season debut this week, Perez may head to the bullpen for Atlanta.

Baz (1-2) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings in the Orioles' 5-3 victory over the Astros. He struck out six.

A solo shot by Brice Matthews in the fifth inning was the only blemish on Baz's line, and he got the hook after 98 pitches (65 strikes), just short of his first quality start of the season. The right-hander has provided Baltimore with at least five innings in all six of his trips to the mound, but length has been about the only area of consistency for the former Ray. Baz will take a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 34 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road this weekend in Yankee Stadium.

Matthews went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Orioles.

Getting another start in center field and batting ninth, Matthews launched a solo homer off Shane Baz in the fifth inning to get Houston on the board, and give the converted second baseman his second long ball of 2026. The performance snapped an 0-for-10 skid for the 24-year-old, but since becoming a regular member of an injury-thinned outfield back on April 20, Matthews is batting .300 (6-for-20) with three doubles, a homer, a steal, three runs and four RBI.

Teng (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Astros fell 5-3 to the Orioles, giving up two runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out two.

Kicking off a bullpen day for Houston, Teng lasted a season-high 42 pitches (30 strikes) before being lifted, with Ryan Weiss piggybacking him for another 3.2 frames. Teng has provided useful innings so far on a patchwork staff, posting a 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB over 19.2 innings in 12 appearances (one start), but his current role doesn't carry a lot of fantasy utility -- the 27-year-old right-hander has one win and one hold in that span. If the Teng/Weiss tandem takes another turn in the rotation, it lines up to come on the road this weekend in Boston. If the Astros look to Triple-A Sugar Land instead for a starter, Miguel Ullola would be on turn and threw 5.1 innings Tuesday, albeit with a 5:4 K:BB.

Littell (0-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Mets, surrendering eight runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks with one strikeout across 3.2 innings.

Littell has now been tagged for eight runs in each of his last three starts and has given up an astonishing 25 earned runs and 13 homers across 28.2 innings this season. Both of those numbers are the most in the league. It's fair to wonder how much longer Washington will trot out the right-hander to make starts. He gave up long balls to Bo Bichette and Juan Soto on Tuesday and now owns a hideous 7.85 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 16:11 K:BB across six appearances. His 9.06 FIP and 7.96 xERA suggest Littell has somehow pitched even worse than his numbers would suggest.

Benge went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 8-0 win over the Nationals.

Benge drove home a pair with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend the Mets' lead to 5-0. The rookie outfielder now has back-to-back multi-hit games and has logged at least two knocks in three of his last five contests. He's 7-for-12 during that span with a double, a homer, three RBI and one strikeout. Benge has upped his slash line to .195/.258/.293 with with two home runs, six RBI, nine runs scored, six stolen bases and a 7:19 BB:K across 89 plate appearances.