SAN FRANCISCO — The velocity on Kyle Freeland’s fastball is down, of that there can be no doubt.
To say that it’s an alarming trend would be saying too much, but it’s certainly been on the mind of the Rockies’ 30-year-old left-hander.
“It’s a little bit concerning,” Freeland said Friday before the Rockies played the Giants at Oracle Park. “But you know that I’ve never been one to say that I can’t pitch without high velo. I’m still going to go out and use my mix of pitches to try and get outs. Obviously, velocity on your pitches is going to help with that because hitters aren’t going to be able to track the pitch as long.
“But it’s not a massive concern, especially since I feel healthy. My body feels healthy and my arm feels healthy.”
During his start in Houston on Tuesday, Freeland’s four-seam fastball averaged 86.8 mph and his sinker averaged 86.9, continuing a recent trend of dropping velocity, according to Baseball Savant. For the season, his average four-seam fastball velocity is 88.7 and the sinker comes in at 88.5.
“I’m not overly concerned,” manager Bud Black said, echoing Freeland. “Through conversation and through our analytics and video, we are trying to decipher why that’s happening. I can’t explain it right now. He’s making his starts and he’s throwing his sides.”
Freeland, who is scheduled to start Sunday’s game here before Colorado begins the All-Star break, is 4-9 with a 4.93 ERA over 18 starts.
During his debut 2017 season, Freeland threw a 92.5 mph four-seam fastball and a 90.4 two-seamer. The velocity has tapered off every year since, but that is due in part to Freeland’s evolution into a more well-rounded pitcher. Still, he wants to get to the bottom of what’s going on, especially since the velocity has dropped about 2 mph over his last six starts.
“I didn’t change anything in the offseason, workout-wise,” he said, noting that he went through the offseason workout routine at the club’s complex at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz. “The shoulder strength is there. I’ve been working on a few small things with my mechanics to see if maybe I’m losing velocity through my mechanics. But I’ve cleaned up my mechanics, but my velocity is still down. I’m not sure why.”
Freeland, in the second year of a five-year, $64.5 million contract, has never been a flamethrower and he takes pride in his ability to mix his fastballs with a slider, curve and changeup.
“If you set up hitters the correct way, an 88 mph fastball can get on hitters really fast,” he said. “And I think if anyone starts chasing velocity, then they become a thrower, and that’s not me. We are supposed to be intelligent out there and be creative and use our stuff to create deception.”
Added Black: “He’s evolved into more of a technician over the last few years.”
Still, Freeland acknowledged that creating more zip on his pitches would be beneficial.
“Going into the (next) offseason, it’s going to be a focus of mine to do different things, different workouts, to possibly get that velocity back to where I would like it to be,” he said. “That would be 89-92 and, sitting at 90 and maybe touching 93 at times.”
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-5, 6.62 ERA) at Giants TBA
2:05 p.m. Saturday, Oracle Park
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Seabold is searching for consistent command within the strike zone. That’s been sorely lacking of late and it’s reflected in his statistics. The right-hander has lost three consecutive games and got mauled by the Tigers on Sunday at Coors Field. He allowed eight runs on seven hits — including three home runs — over five innings. Seabold is 0-3 with a 14.54 ERA over his last three starts with eight home runs given up. The Giants, who have not announced their Saturday starter, are likely to utilize a bullpen game. Right-hander Ryan Walker has been pegged as the likely opener.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-9, 4.93) at Giants RHP Logan Webb (7-7, 3.38), 2:05 p.m., ATTRM
Monday-Thursday: All-Star break
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