There’s almost nothing that the Colorado Rockies will want to repeat from their historically awful 2025 season. But one of the few things they will want to repeat is Kyle Freeland’s Opening Day start. The 32-year-old left-hander will start for the Rockies on Opening Day for the fifth time in his career. Freeland set the franchise record for Opening Day starts last season, a cool honor for the Denver, Colorado native. The Rockies’ offseason has reinvigorated the veteran starter, who is entering his team-leading 10th season with the club.
“It’s going to be cool to know that we’ve gone through a drastic change, and when we take the field for that game, it’s going to be the start of something new — the start of something, hopefully, very special for us,” said Freeland to Thomas Harding of MLB.com following the announcement that he would be the Opening Day starter.
Opportunity To Set the Tone
One of the nicest things about being the Opening Day starter is the chance to set the tone as the season begins. The first pitcher on your respective club to toe the rubber. Obviously, one game in a 162-game season won’t decide the pennant race. Freeland had a stellar start against the Tampa Bay Rays last year on Opening Day, and we all know how last year went. But following a needed shakeup in the front office this offseason, a good start from Freeland would be a good way to start the season as the Rockies look to erase the memory of last year.
Freeland was lights out last year, shutting out the Rays over six innings with seven groundouts forced and seven Ks to zero BBs. Freeland left with a 2-0 lead and looked to have a great shot at starting the season 1-0. But in classic Rockies’ fashion, that lead was immediately given up in the seventh inning as veteran reliever Tyler Kinley allowed the first two batters to reach, and the Rays tied the game shortly after. The Rockies’ bullpen recovered, but the offense failed to muster a run, and the Rays won 3-2 on a Kameron Misner walk-off home run to right field.
What Freeland and the Rockies don’t want is a repeat of his 2024 Opening Day start. In which he allowed 10 earned runs over just 2 1/3 innings pitched in a 16-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The baseball world will not be kind towards the Rockies if they follow up their disastrous season last year with an Opening Day dud like in 2024.
1-0
If Freeland is successful and the offense and bullpen back him, it will be the first time the Rockies have started 1-0 since 2023. When they started 2-0 following consecutive road victories against the San Diego Padres. It’s already been covered this offseason that Rockies fans have not seen an above .500 Rockies team play at Coors Field since April 10, 2022! This is also the last time the Rockies began a season at home. The Rockies begin with six straight on the road against the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays this season. Which means they could very well be several games under .500 by the time they play baseball in Colorado.
But a more realistic goal is the Rockies starting 1-0. Freeland will have to outduel Sandy Alcantara, and the Rockies are historically bad in Miami. But it is not out of the realm of possibility for the Rockies to steal one on Opening Day against the Fish. Freeland is 4-1 in eight career starts against the Marlins. Posting a 3.77 ERA with 30 Ks to just six BBs over 43 IP. In two of those starts in Miami, he went seven innings with five Ks and less than two earned runs allowed in each.
Solid Spring
Spring Training stats have to be taken with a grain of salt. But for what it’s worth, Freeland was lights out in Cactus League Play this year. Pitching nine innings across three starts, Freeland posted a 1.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with eight Ks to four BBs.
In Freeland’s final start of the spring on March 21 against the Kansas City Royals, he allowed just four hits over four shutout innings. Ending his Spring Training on a solid note. Now he will look to follow that up with another stellar start in Florida to begin the Rockies’ season.
Mar 4, 2026; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) throws against the United States in the first inning at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Possible Swan Song for Freeland
This could be Freeland’s last season in Denver, depending on how the season goes. Per Spotrac, Freeland signed a five-year deal worth $64.5 million in 2022. The deal included a conditional player option for 2027 if Freeland pitches 170 innings this season. Freeland came close to that marker last year, pitching in 162 2/3 innings over 31 games. But he has not reached the threshold since 2022. When he pitched in 174 2/3 innings across 31 games. The only time he has surpassed 170 IP in his career.
If the Rockies are as bad as projected this season, it would make sense if there is a mutual parting of ways. Freeland is a Colorado native, but he will also be 33 this May and will likely be retired by the time the Rockies are ready to be competitive again. He is the last remaining member from the 2018 club, the last time the Rockies made the postseason. When Freeland pitched 6 2/3 masterful innings, helping the Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 at Wrigley in 13 innings in the National League Wild Card game.
It would be sad to see him leave. He is a fan favorite as a Denver native and a guy who always wears his heart on his sleeve. Even through some very tough seasons the last few years. But there would also be hope for Freeland to experience postseason baseball again before his career ends.
Much like his longtime teammate, German Marquez. Who will look to reach the postseason with the NL West rival Padres this season, following a decade in Colorado. If it is the end, hopefully the Rockies’ all-time franchise leader in Opening Day starts can twirl another gem as he kicks off yet another Rockies season.
Main Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images