MLB Player News

Poulin will serve as the opening pitcher for the Nationals in Wednesday's game versus the Guardians, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Poulin opened the series opener Monday, too, allowing one run on a solo home run in his two innings of work. Miles Mikolas is slated to absorb the bulk of the innings for the Nationals on Wednesday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies that Freeland will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Wednesday's series finale, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Freeland will be rejoining the 26-man active roster as a replacement for Enrique Hernandez, who will be headed back to the shelf after straining his oblique just two days after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list. The Dodgers designated Santiago Espinal for assignment to clear room on the roster for Hernandez, so the addition of Freeland will strengthen the club's infield depth. After breaking camp with the big club, Freeland slashed .235/.309/.337 with two home runs and eight RBI through 33 games before the Dodgers optioned him to Triple-A on May 11, when shortstop Mookie Betts returned from a stint on the IL. During his upcoming stint with Los Angeles, Freeland is likely to occupy the short side of a platoon at second base with Hyeseong Kim or at third base with Max Muncy (wrist).

Wood went 3-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.

Getting the start in left field, Wood took Joey Cantillo deep in the second inning -- just his third homer of the season off a southpaw, compared to 11 against right-handed pitching. Wood has racked up three or more hits in four of the last nine games, slashing a blistering .444/.535/.750 over that stretch with two doubles, three long balls, two steals, eight RBI and 10 runs.

Cavalli (3-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings in a 6-3 victory over the Guardians. He struck out seven.

The 27-year-old right-hander delivered his third straight quality start and fifth of the season on 87 pitches (61 strikes). Cavalli has been the Nationals' most reliable starter over the last month and a half, giving up three earned runs or fewer in eight straight trips to the mound while posting a 3.27 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 55:9 K:BB through 44 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Marlins.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies that Hernandez will be placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a left oblique strain, Noah Camras of SI.com reports.

After undergoing surgery on his left elbow back in November, Hernandez had been on the IL throughout the season before being activated Monday. The utility player got off to a hot start by going 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and an additional run through his first two games with the Dodgers, but he tweaked his oblique during batting practice Monday and seemingly aggravated the issue during Tuesday's contest. The Dodgers will recall Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Hernandez on the active roster.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani is on track make a start as a pitcher Wednesday against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, but the Dodgers haven't decided if Ohtani will hit during the game, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

While serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter in Tuesday's 15-6 win, Ohtani went 0-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored. After being struck on his right (pitching) hand during his plate appearance in the bottom of the fourth, Ohtani took his base but was removed from the contest the next time his turn in the batting order came up in the fifth. The Dodgers already held a nine-run lead at that point, and Roberts said afterward that Ohtani was merely removed as a precaution. Even so, while Ohtani shouldn't face any limitations with his workload as a pitcher, the Dodgers could still look to give him a break from hitting Wednesday. Ohtani has been included in the lineup for four of his first eight starts as a pitcher this season.

The Rockies signed Lopez to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Lopez was outrighted off the Cubs' 40-man roster earlier this week. He elected free agency and has now landed a new deal with Colorado. He began the season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Rockies organization before being traded to the Cubs in late April. The veteran infielder will provide an experienced, steady depth glove at Albuquerque.

Polanco (Achilles) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Polanco has been cleared to return to game action after being sidelined since mid-April with a right wrist contusion and left Achilles bursitis. It's the Achilles issue that Polanco has had trouble overcoming, and he will likely have to manage the injury the rest of the season. Polanco will probably require a handful of rehab games before rejoining the active roster in early June. When he does return, he's slated to see the bulk of his playing time at designated hitter.

Trevino (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, MLB.com reports.

The goal of Friday's imaging is to determine how much activity Trevino should be allowed to do by the club's medical staff. The catcher exited a game May 16 and was added to the injured list shortly after with a three-to-four week timeline.

Pagan (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday to check on his healing, MLB.com reports.

Pagan has been doing what he can without stressing the hamstring, including throwing from his knees. Friday's imaging could determine if the reliever can handle more activity and make clearer the timeline for Pagan's return. At the time of his injury in early May, the estimate was between four and eight weeks.