Colorado Rockies: 3 players under plenty of pressure in 2020

Kyle Freeland

The nation quickly got to know the Denver native during a magical 2018 run on the mound, culminating with a number of votes placing him among the league’s best in the Cy Young balloting.

But baseball is a game of “what have you done for me lately?” And Rockies fans are looking at Freeland’s 2019 performance and wondering which version of the southpaw they will see in 2020.

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Will it be the one who played such a big role in the team’s success in 2018 or the one who was demoted to Triple-A and seemed lost on the mound at times last season?

How Freeland, German Marquez and Jon Gray pitch this season will likely dictate how high in the standings the Rockies finish. That’s enough pressure in and of itself. However, Freeland will also have to shake off the ghosts of 2019 and prove that he can keep the ball in the park and can stay in the rotation and make a positive contribution.

The Rockies need a strong Freeland on the mound every fifth day. Will they have that? That’s one of the biggest questions entering next season.