Colorado Rockies roster moves: Kyle Freeland activated from IL, DJ Johnson optioned

According to the Colorado Rockies on Twitter, the team has activated their ace starting pitcher, Kyle Freeland, off the 10-day injured list to start tonight’s game.

The Colorado Rockies have announced that they have activated their ace, left-handed starter Kyle Freeland, off the 10-day injured list.

In a corresponding move, the Rockies have optioned right-handed reliever DJ Johnson back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

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Freeland, 25, had a blood blister on his left middle finger that hindered him from throwing his fastball and slider. He was placed on the injured list last Monday but the move was retroactive to April 19, the day after his last start.

Per the Rockies PR team, this was the second career stint on the injured list as the first stint in his career was from August 5 through 15, 2017 with a left groin strain.

This season, Freeland has gone 2-3 with a 4.23 ERA in 27 2/3 innings pitched. He has allowed 13 earned, 10 walks, and 30 strikeouts in five starts this season

Last season, of course, he finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting in 2018 after going 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA. That ERA was the lowest in a full season in franchise history and the fourth-lowest in the NL in 2018.

He will start in tonight’s game for the Rockies, the first in a four game set against the Milwaukee Brewers, who they faced last year in the 2018 NLDS.

Johnson, 29, made his first career Opening Day roster this season but he has struggled for much of the season. He had a record of 0-1 with a 5.59 ERA in 9 2/3 inning pitched with six earned runs allowed, nine walks, and nine strikeouts over 12 appearances. He made his Major League debut as a September callup last season for the Rockies.

Considering his struggles this season, it’s not surprising to see Johnson as the odd man out right now. He will look to regain his form in Albuquerque and join the Rockies some time later this season.