Colorado Rockies game no. 35 thread: Spencer Strider vs Kyle Freeland
The Rockies look to avoid being swept by the Braves at home.
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds led 4-1 after three innings. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Suffice it to say the first two games of this three game set against one of the best current teams in baseball has not gone well for the Colorado Rockies.
After a bullpen meltdown on Friday and an overall poor performance—with a rare clunker from Chase Dollander—on Saturday, the Rockies are facing a sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Left-handed starter Kyle Freeland will make his second appearance since returning from the injured list last week. Freeland pitched fairly well in his first start after dealing with left shoulder soreness, considering he didn’t take a rehab assignment, and faced a Cincinnati Reds offense riding a hot streak.
Freeland allowed four earned runs on five hits—including a home run—and a walk while striking out four batters. Their opponent today will be the right-handed, mustachioed menace known as Spencer Strider, who will be making his season debut after missing time with an oblique strain. Strider’s first two full seasons in the league saw him take second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2022, and he was both an All-Star and Cy Young candidate in 2023.
However, he missed the majority of 2024 due to needing Tommy John surgery. His 2025 campaign—while relatively successful with a 4. 45 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 125.