The Colorado Rockies’ Opening Day performance came with mixed results, as veteran left-handed starter Kyle Freeland was stellar while the bullpen again struggled. As competitive as Freeland is, he no doubt wanted to erase the memory of his Opening Day start last season, in which he gave up 10 earned runs over 2 1/3 IP in a 16-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Against the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day this season, Freeland was stellar. He posted six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks on only 67 pitches. However, the 3-2 loss to the Rays could actually be worse for the Rockies compared to the debacle last season on Opening Day.
Kyle Freeland Was Great Despite Rockies Loss
But first, the good news. Freeland will have to come close to his stellar 2018 season if the Rockies want to have a chance at a successful season. He got off to the best possible start in doing so. Per MLB.com insider Thomas Harding, Freeland’s start was the 14th quality start on Opening Day in Rockies history. Only Mike Hampton in 2001 and Kyle Kendrick in 2015 also posted shutouts on Opening Day.
Kyle Freeland, 3 Pitch K (all Knuckle Curves). 😨 pic.twitter.com/UBEAUafik3
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 28, 2025
Freeland did not even give up a hit until the fourth. He also relinquished a single in the fifth before striking out Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca to shut down the inning. Freeland also didn’t issue a walk, a rare sight for the Rockies last season. There is a long way to go, and it is just one start. But one of the Rockies’ leaders had a very encouraging start to the season and made his Opening Day start last season a distant memory. The vibes were good, and the Rockies looked well on their way to achieving their first victory of the season. Then, the issues that plagued the Rockies last season reared their ugly head.
Troubled Bullpen Overshadows Opening Day
There was concern that the Rockies did not do enough to inspire confidence in a bullpen turnaround. Minus a late signing of veteran righty Scott Alexander, it is largely the same bullpen as last season. One game in, and the Rockies bullpen is again experiencing the same issues. Tyler Kinley, who normally is one of the Rockies’ most reliable options, struggled at the start of last season as he was working his way back from Tommy John surgery. However, he played better as the season went on and had a solid spring.
Kinley was the first reliever out of the bullpen Friday afternoon. He immediately gave up a single and a double, followed by a sacrifice fly. He then gave up a walk, before allowing a game-tying single by pinch hitter Jose Caballero. Angel Chivilli came in and recorded three consecutive outs to end the inning, but the damage was done. Victor Vodnik, coming off a great 2024, shut down the Rays with a three-up, three-down eighth. But a walk-off solo home run by left fielder Kameron Misner to begin the ninth ended Vodnik’s day on a sour note.
Again, it is just one game, and there is a long way to go. But this is likely the worst way the Rockies could have lost after the bullpen’s struggles last season. A 16-1 loss can at least be written off as a game where it just wasn’t your night. A loss where the bullpen implodes following a quality start is far more worrying. The offense will also have to provide the bullpen with more of a cushion than a 2-0 lead. After an RBI double by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar in the third and a sac-fly by second baseman Kyle Farmer in the fourth, the Rockies were held hitless and struck out a whopping 12 times during the game.
Of course Tovi would pic.twitter.com/N9iRsgZnE7
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 28, 2025
There’s Always the Next Game
Last year, the Rockies followed a disappointing Opening Day performance with a bounce-back win. This Opening Day loss was disappointing for different reasons. But Antonio Senzatela, who is coming off a historic spring training for Colorado, gets the ball on Saturday. A performance by the bullpen backing a potential quality start by Senzatela would be a big confidence booster for a unit that needs one. Hitting coach Hensley “Bam-Bam” Meulens made great progress with several Rockies hitters last season when it comes to their effectiveness on the road.
A bounce-back from the Rockies’ offense in their second game would be a welcome sight. It has been a point of emphasis for the Rockies to lower their strikeouts and keep up with the increased power production. Freeland was as good as the Rockies could have hoped for. The bullpen and offense looked the same as last year. It’s time to follow Freeland’s lead and put together an all-around performance that distances the memory of last season and gives hope for this one.
Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
