Colorado Rockies: Tyler Anderson activated, Kyle Freeland to IL

The Colorado Rockies have had numerous injuries to start the season but in the last week or so, they have finally had a lot of the injured players return from the injured list. However, today, they activated one player but had to place another player on the injured list.

On Monday, the Colorado Rockies announced that they have activated left-handed starting pitcher Tyler Anderson from the 10-day injured list.

In a corresponding move, the Rockies have also announced that they have placed their ace, left-hander Kyle Freeland, on the 10-day disabled list with his recurring blister on his left middle finger. He has had to leave his last two starts due to the blister.

Anderson, who was on on the 10-day injured list due to left knee inflammation that had been lingering since spring training, struggled mightily in his first two starts of the 2019 season. He was saddled with the loss in both starts by allowing 11 runs (all earned) in only nine innings of work. He allowed 18 hits (including 2 home runs) and 3 walks as well.

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Anderson will be starting the series opener against the Washington Nationals today.

Freeland, 25, has a record of 2-3 on the 2019 season with an ERA of 4.23.  In 27 2/3 innings pitched, he has allowed 13 earned runs with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts in five starts this season.

Last season, he finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting in 2018 after going 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA and 202 1/3 innings pitched

Per the Rockies PR team, his 2.84 ERA was the lowest in a full season in franchise history and the fourth-lowest in the NL in 2018. Also, this will be his second career stint on the injured list after missing 10 days (Aug. 5-15, 2017) with a left groin strain.

Freeland spoke to the media, including Rox Pile’s Kevin Henry, after the announcement and he said that if it happened later into the season, he’d pitch through it but since it’s early, it’s a precaution to put him on the IL. He also said that the blister largely impacts him throwing his slider and fastball.

Freeland was slated to start against the Washington Nationals in Tuesday’s game for the Rockies but, obviously, with him headed to the injured list, the Rockies will need to make yet another move for somebody to start the game.

Stay tuned for our coverage from Coors Field today and throughout the series as Rox Pile’s Kevin Henry and Jake Shapiro will have updates on what’s happening.

UPDATE: Quotes and remarks from Kyle Freeland…

“This will make sure that we have enough time to get this thing right and it won’t reappear. We just make sure it (the finger) gets back to normal and being strong again.”

Freeland said the pressure on the finger comes from when he throws his fastball and slider.

Our Kevin Henry asked Freeland about his frustration level.

“It’s not that high but I’m a competitor and I want to play. You don’t want to miss a start like this. You want to be healthy all year long. It’s a small injury and a nagging injury.”