Left-hander Justin Steele had been optimistic when he landed on the injured list nearly two weeks ago. Steele’s diagnosis of left elbow tendinitis was encouraging, avoiding a worst-case scenario, and kept a return before the end of the season in play.

Add Freeland to the list of left-handed pitchers who have been victimized by Bellinger this year. “We kind of have an inside joke, me and the hitting coaches, with lefties,” Bellinger told the Sun-Times last month.