The Colorado Rockies have the worst record in the National League, but it is a big improvement over last season.
Colorado didn’t win its 43rd game until Sept. 21 and finished with 119 losses.
On Sunday afternoon, the Rockies will have a chance to record their 43rd win of the 2026 season when they wrap up a three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers.
Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland (2-9, 7.28 ERA) will oppose right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (10-4, 1.57) in the decisive contest of the series.
Misiorowski leads the majors with 173 strikeouts and in ERA. He consistently hits 100 mph or more on the radar gun, as the Rockies experienced in Denver on June 6 when he held them to one unearned run over seven innings in a 7-1 Milwaukee victory.
It was the first time he has faced Colorado in his career.
Freeland, meanwhile, has lost his last two decisions, allowing four runs over six innings in both outings. He also added a little drama when he faced Washington on Monday.
Freeland took exception to Andres Chaparro running over the mound following a flyout, leading to the pitcher having words with Chaparro and the benches clearing. Despite his record and ERA, Freeland has maintained his intensity, and he will carry that into his 12th career start against the Brewers.
He is 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA in the previous 11 outings.
Freeland credits the offense for the team’s improvement from last year and acknowledged the pitching staff has been a weak point.
“They’re doing a good job of putting runs on the board, but the big thing is pitching,” Freeland said. “It’s been the trend the whole season. We’re not throwing the ball especially well. We’re making our offense fight and claw at the end of games to come back.”
Milwaukee, conversely, has been one of the better teams offensively and on the mound. The Brewers lead the National League in ERA (3.44) and saves (33) while being fifth in the majors in runs (524) and ranking tied for fourth in stolen bases (103).
The offense has gotten a boost from a pair of rookies, who were instrumental in Saturday night’s 8-5 Milwaukee win. Cooper Pratt hit his second career home run and drove in three runs, while Luis Lara reached base four times and had three RBIs.
Lara’s sacrifice fly and Pratt’s home run in the second inning got the Brewers off to a fast start.
“I knew that one was gone, not like the first one,” Pratt said of his homer after the game. “It felt good, and we won, too. Definitely starting to slow down, starting to breathe, starting to relax and just play baseball.”
Pratt said he isn’t surprised by Lara’s early success.
“He’s a dog. I was with him in Triple-A, and he was doing the same thing,” Pratt said. “He’s starting to heat up and he’s a dude, for sure. That’s every day for him.”
–Field Level Media
