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Rockies Kyle Freeland Worth Adding in all Leagues

By Bill Pivetz

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 18: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies pithces against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on May 18, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 18: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies pithces against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on May 18, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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It’s been tradition to avoid Rockies pitchers but Kyle Freeland is bucking that stereotype. He is worth adding in all leagues.

The Colorado Rockies are hanging in their with the Arizona Diamondbacks, just 0.5 games back. With the injuries to the Dbacks, the Rockies could move into first place. It’s also worth mentioning that the Rockies pitching is doing well. One starting pitcher worth adding is Kyle Freeland.

For years, fantasy owners would avoid drafting Colorado pitchers because of the Coors Field effect. For those new to fantasy, Coors Field is known to be a very hitter-friendly park. However, Freeland is pitching well both at home and on the road.

Freeland is 4-4 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 49 strikeouts and 18 walks in 54.0 innings. Looking at the splits, He has double the starts on the road than at home, which skews the numbers a bit. In his three home starts, Freeland posted a 1.40 ERA, 1.138 WHIP and a 19:8 K:BB ratio.

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In his last home start, against the Milwaukee, Freeland pitched 6.1 shutout innings while allowing four hits and four walks and struck out eight. The number of baserunners could decrease some but at least he’s getting himself out of danger. He has an 80.2 left on base percentage, up over five percent from his rookie season.

Freeland is giving up more fly balls but they haven’t turned into home runs, only 11.5 percent HR/FB rate. He’s getting more swinging strikes at 9.7 percent and more swings on pitches out of the strike zone with a 31.2 O-Swing percentage.

Freeland will make his next start on May 23 on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers offense has stifled, hitting .224 with 52 runs scored and 15 home runs in the month of May. Dodger Stadium favors hitters for home runs but pitchers in every other stat, according to ESPN Park Factors.

With injuries to Clayton Kershaw, Jimmy Nelson and Zach Davies, Madison Bumgarner still on the DL and many others, Freeland is getting some looks. He’s been added in 21.9 percent of ESPN leagues and 29 percent of CBS Sports leagues.

Next: Paul DeJong out with hand fracture

Freeland hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since April 18 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has five straight quality starts since then and three straight wins with a possible fourth on the way. Pick him up while you still can.

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