CLEVELAND -- At times needing to stop to bend over with hands on knees and generally looking every bit as sick as he was, Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland labored through three innings of a 5-0 loss to the Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday night.
Freeland was already in a weakened state the previous afternoon. But he found the strength to make sure there was no speculation.
Freeland was being driven toward the Progressive Field exit on Tuesday afternoon. With the Trade Deadline approaching on Thursday and Freeland having been reported as a player drawing interest from other teams, any reporter’s eyes would light up at seeing him being whisked to an exit.
Freeland looked at the inquiring eyes, dropped the towel from his face and said, “It’s nothing,” then said he was sick and he would be OK for Wednesday’s start. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer backed Freeland’s assertion on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Of course, OK was relative.
Two runs in three innings was fine under trying circumstances. Between Freeland’s three frames and rookie reliever Juan Mejia’s career-high three innings (during which he K'd four without allowing a hit), the Rockies had something of a chance. But while dropping to 28-80 -- tied for sixth worst through 108 decisions in MLB’s Modern Era (since 1900) -- Colorado managed three hits as the Guardians stifled the club in a bullpen game.
The two-hour game was the shortest of the season for both teams, even if Freeland would say it was one long night. Forget being dealt: Freeland, cloaked in dark clothing as he sat with elbows on knees in the clubhouse after the game, would have traded places with anyone who wasn’t ill.
“He honestly gave us everything that he had in the tank,” Schaeffer said. “Even sending him back out for the third was probably kind of pushing it.
“I mean, if he doesn’t go today, we can’t finish the game with the bullpen.”
There’s the real Trade Deadline link to this game. On Wednesday morning, the Rockies traded veteran reliever Tyler Kinley to the Braves for Minor League right-hander Austin Smith, who is bound for Double-A Hartford. The Rockies were a man short in the bullpen, after using relievers heavily during the previous night’s loss to the Guardians.
A first inning that started with two quick outs was marred by three hits, including David Fry’s two-run homer. Freeland took a long, slow walk to the dugout after the frame.
To start the second, Nolan Jones grounded to Rockies first baseman Warming Bernabel. Let’s say it was good Bernabel was close enough to put away the out, because Freeland could not make it.
Afterward, Schaeffer, pitching coach Darryl Scott, assistant athletic trainer Heath Townsend, catcher Austin Nola, all the Rockies infielders and home-plate umpire Bruce Dreckman gathered around Freeland as he bent over, coughing and trying to find strength somewhere. The only hope is that all attendees were socially distanced enough to not catch whatever was leaving Freeland feeling beaten down.
Freeland made it through the third, with no further hits or runs allowed. He made quick work of the Guardians, but walking on and off the field for his innings was anything but quick.
Wednesday's struggle fit with Freeland's 2-11, 5.25 ERA performance in 2025.
He had a 6.41 ERA through eight starts, but since then has pitched much better while achieving 100 innings in his club-record eighth season (Jorge De La Rosa did it seven times). His ERA has improved each month, even though he missed two starts with back stiffness in June. But no matter how he has pitched, only twice this year has he done so in a Rockies win -- in part because he has been dealt 12 unearned runs.
Freeland is a Denver native, but interested teams are wondering if he's better off being sent away from home.
Mejia has emerged as a revelation this season -- so much so that scouts from other teams include him in a list of Rockies relievers they covet (with Seth Halvorsen, Jake Bird and Jimmy Herget).
“That was what kept us right in the game,” Schaeffer said. “He was nasty. He’s gone two-plus only once this year. He showed us some real guts going back out there.
“He was efficient. That’s the key to being able to do that. That was huge for me.”