Colorado Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland will start on Opening Day for the fourth time in his career on March 28 at the Tampa Bay Rays, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. It is the second straight year Freeland is the opening day starter for Colorado. The start places Freeland as the franchise leader for Opening Day starts. Breaking a tie with teammate Germán Márquez, per Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com. The 32-year-old Denver, Colorado native is entering his ninth season with Colorado.
Freeland has gone 1-2 in his three previous Opening Day starts. In 2019, he shut down the Miami Marlins for seven innings in a 6-3 road win, forcing 12 groundball outs with five Ks to just one BB. In 2022, he lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs, all in the fourth inning in a 5-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, both starts pale compared to the disaster to begin the 2024 season.
In just 2 1/3 IP, Freeland relinquished 10 earned runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks in an eventual 16-1 loss at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. With just one homer allowed in the start, the Diamondbacks killed Freeland and the Rockies with singles and doubles during a ridiculous 14-run third. Freeland is one of the most fiery, competitive players on the Rockies and will no doubt want to flush the memory of that start with a solid showing against the Rays.
Freeland Carrying Momentum Into Opening Day
He followed the disastrous start against Arizona with another poor outing. In 3 1/3 IP, he allowed nine hits and seven earned runs at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, resulting in a 12-2 loss. After two more subpar starts in April, Freeland spent two months on the IL with a left elbow sprain. When he returned in June, Freeland put up back-to-back stellar starts against the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox. Throwing a combined 12 2/3 IP with just two runs allowed and seven Ks to three BBs.
He was a consistent starter for Colorado for the remainder of the season and finished strong. Freeland had a 27.00 ERA after his first two starts but finished with a 5.24 ERA. He has been stellar this spring. In three Cactus League starts, he has allowed three earned runs over 9 2/3 IP with a fantastic 11:1 K: BB ratio. Additionally, his 2.79 ERA is third among Rockies starters with at least nine IP. Trailing only RHP Antonio Senzatela (0.54 ERA) and RHP Bradley Blalock (1.42 ERA). Freeland has shown that he can be a top starter in the Rockies rotation. Finishing fourth in the National League in CY Young voting with a stellar 2.85 ERA in 33 games in 2018. If Freeland can come close to that form again, it could do wonders for the young but talented Rockies.
Main Photo Credits: Chet Strange-Imagn Images
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