Kyle Freeland holds Giants to one run in victory

After throwing a complete game against the Royals on Sunday, Freeland reminded everyone that he’s still Kyle Freeland. The defense didn’t help, but he wasn’t fooling hitters and needed a whopping 101 pitches to get his 13 outs. Still, this “lowers” Freeland’s ERA to 6.63 on the season, and he’ll be back next weekend against the Giants.

Well, that came out of nowhere. Freeland has been one of the worst starters in baseball, but had it going Sunday. He threw 74-of-115 pitches for strikes, and he was able to whiff eight while issuing just two walks and scattering five hits. It’s a very impressive outing that is impossible to take seriously based on not just this year, but the past few. He’ll try and make us look dumb and do it again next weekend against the Cardinals.

Freeland gave up six hits, walked one and struck out two. He fell to 2-10 with the loss. The Brewers pounced on Freeland in the first inning for three runs and he couldn’t make it out of the sixth inning without allowing another two runs. He has a 7.34 ERA. Freeland is lined up to face the Royals at home next weekend, but he’s decidedly off the fantasy radar at this point of his career.

That would include Kyle Freeland, Michael Lorenzen, and Tomoyuki Sugano. While they may not seem like major additions, they are experienced veteran starters that playoff contenders could look to add as rotation depth for the final months.

It’s the seventh straight start in which Freeland has allowed an even number of runs (two twice, four twice and six three times). Sorry, but it’s difficult coming up with interesting things to write about Rockies pitchers. Freeland took the loss, leaving him 2-9 with a 7.28 ERA. He’s given up seven more earned runs than anyone else in the league. He’ll probably make his next start Sunday in Milwaukee.

Freeland had allowed just one hit through four shutout frames before giving up a run on two hits in the fifth inning. The Giants ruined an otherwise solid start in the sixth as Casey Schmitt took Freeland deep for a three-run blast. Freeland would end his day after six with nine punchouts. The 33-year-old left-hander holds a 7.36 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and a 79/18 K/BB ratio at the break.

He struck out two and surrendered nine hits and 12 hard-hit balls. There’s just nothing here that’s getting any better. It’s the eighth time in 17 starts that Freeland has allowed six runs this season, and he has a 7.46 ERA over 82 innings. He’s due to pitch in San Francisco this weekend.

Freeland found success in a home start in part by leaning more into his cutter. It seemed to catch the Marlins off guard in the zone and forced a handful of softly hit outs when they jumped on it. Still, it was a quality primary pitch and set up his knuckle-curve beautifully, which forced seven of his 13 total swings-and-misses. He’s lined up for a two-start week away from Coors Field coming up next against the Dodgers and Giants.

It probably would have been a little worse, but Carlos Narváez lost a leadoff triple in the sixth when it was ruled that he briefly lost touch with the bag as he popped up from his slide. This is the seventh time in 10 starts that Freeland has allowed at least six runs, though he managed to avoid a loss this time, as the Rockies erased a three-run deficit after he exited and won 8-6. Freeland is 1-7 with a 7.50 ERA, but his rotation status still shouldn’t be in any doubt. He’ll make his next start at home versus the Marlins.

Freeland had everything working here. He breezed through the first seven innings throwing just 75 pitches and facing two batters over the minimum. Then, consecutive doubles forced him from the game in the eighth and reliever Jaden Hill let his inherited runner score after just one pitch. Nevertheless, Freeland played his fastball, cutter, and knuckle curve off each other beautifully to turn in his best start of the season. Just don’t forget that he still has a 7.36 ERA and that the Rockies are playing 12 of their next 15 games at home in Coors Field. Freeland’s next start is scheduled to come at home against the Red Sox.