Colorado Rockies game no. 6 thread: Kyle Freeland vs. Kevin Gausman

Finishing out a road trip in which they are 1-4, the Colorado Rockies look to go out on a high note with a series win before kicking off their home opener on Friday. Unfortunately for them, they face a tough customer for the Toronto Blue Jays (4-1), as it will be a battle of the Colorado kids to close out the series.

Kyle Freeland (0-1, 4.15 ERA) makes his second start of the year for the Rockies’ rotation. The first time through the rotation, the starting pitching hasn’t been bad, but it hasn’t been great. In the season opener, Freeland labored through 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts, having thrown 81 pitches. The Rockies remain the only team not to have a starting pitcher go five innings yet this season. It would be quite beneficial if Freeland could go a bit longer into this game and help relieve a bullpen that has already worked quite a bit to start the year. In his career, Freeland owns a 9.31 ERA against Toronto in two starts and a 7.20 ERA in his lone start at the Rogers Centre.

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Kevin Gausman (0-0, 1.50 ERA) takes the hill for the Blue Jays after a spectacular performance in his first outing of the year. The Denver native allowed just one run on one hit, a home run, facing the Athletics in the season opener. He went six innings, didn’t allow a single walk, and struck out 11 batters on 83 pitches, 60 of which were strikes. Gausman has been one of the most reliable and effective starters in baseball since his 2020 season with the San Francisco Giants and has only gotten better while in Toronto. A certified workhorse, Gausman has thrown at least 170 innings a year over the last five seasons, all while boiling down to a two or three-pitch mix. Gausman offers pinpoint control, making his fastball and splitter mix effective against hitters, with a slider tossed in for good measure. He has a 4.78 ERA in his nine career starts against Colorado.

Additionally, the Rockies have activated Tyler Freeman from the injured list and sent Braxton Fulford down to Triple-A Albuquerque.

And now to the details.

First Pitch: 11:07 pm MDT

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TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

SBN Site: Bluebird Banter

Lineups:

For the visiting Rockies: