After a breakout 2018 season that saw him finish fourth in NL Cy Young voting, Kyle Freeland is headed down to the minors.
The Colorado Rockies optioned the struggling left-hander, who was their Opening Day starter, to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday as part of a series of roster moves.
Freeland's 7.13 ERA through 12 starts this season is the worst among qualified pitchers. He's surrendered an MLB-leading 47 earned runs and an NL-high 16 homers while allowing over 10 hits per nine innings across 59 1/3 frames. A seven-inning gem against the Marlins on Opening Day marked the only time he pitched past the sixth inning this year.
The demotion comes just a day after the Arizona Diamondbacks shelled the 26-year-old for five runs on seven hits in only three innings of work.
Freeland earned his top-four Cy Young finish last year by posting a 2.85 ERA that ranks as the second-best single-season mark in Rockies history.
Colorado also optioned outfielder Yonathan Daza to Albuquerque on Friday while recalling pitcher Jesus Tinoco. Left-hander Chris Rusin was also reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
