Rockies to start Kyle Freeland in Wild Card Game on short rest

The Colorado Rockies will ask Kyle Freeland to pitch on short rest in the NL Wild Card Game on Tuesday.

Rockies manager Bud Black announced after losing the NL West tiebreaker to the Dodgers Monday that he would be sending Freeland to the mound in a do-or-die game against the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday.

Freeland has been the Rockies’ best starter this year. The 25-year-old southpaw has gone 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA in 202.1 innings. He last pitched on Friday against Washington, allowing 11 hits over six innings in a 5-2 win. He threw 96 pitches in the start.

Had the Rockies held true to their rotation, Antonio Senzatela would have gotten the start. But with the season on the line, Black will put the ball in the hand of his best pitcher.