What happened: A batter stepping on the mound triggered Kyle Freeland's reaction. He defended his response during a 27-minute discussion that also examined his difficult second half.
Why it matters: The defense comes amid a prolonged stretch of hard contact that has undercut Freeland's strong control. The exchange also reopens baseball's debate over pitcher ownership of the mound.
By the numbers: Across his previous 10 starts, Freeland posted a 7.45 ERA with 1.82 home runs and 0.99 walks allowed per nine innings.
What to watch: Freeland's next outing will show whether his command can begin producing better results.