Rockies May Be Losing Patience With Struggling Starter Lyles
DENVER (The Sports Xchange) - Time could be running out for starter Jordan Lyles. The Colorado Rockies aren't about to remove him from their rotation immediately, but they have prospects pitching well in the high minors, prospects who could very well give the Rockies a better alternative than Lyles before too long.
Lyles has made four starts this season, three of them poor. The Rockies lost 12-10 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, in large part because of Lyles. The Rockies overcame the six-run deficit for which Lyles was responsible, scored five runs in the eighth to go ahead 10-7 only to have the Dodgers score five runs in the ninth.
Lyles lasted 2 2/3 innings and has worked a mere 17 2/3 innings in his four starts. He gave up seven runs, five earned, on five hits and five walks and threw just 36 of 65 pitches for strikes as his ERA rose to 7.64.
The Rockies have gotten very little from Lyles, 25, whom they acquired from Houston on Dec. 3, 2013, with outfielder Brandon Barnes for outfielder Dexter Fowler.
A fractured left hand in 2014 and a ligament tear in his left big toe last year have limited Lyles to 32 starts in his two seasons with the Rockies. He went 7-4 with a 4.33 ERA in 2014 and 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA last year.
Before Sunday's debacle, manager Walt Weiss said Lyles "pitched with his fastball a lot better" in his last start Monday at Cincinnati when he allowed one unearned run and four hits in seven innings. "Overall, I just thought he was much more aggressive in attacking hitters, attacking the strike zone. Using his fastball with conviction -- I think that's key for him, because it sets up the changeup, which is his out pitch."
Lyles has allowed 22 hits and 11 walks in 17 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts. He is having trouble with his delivery, spinning off the mound at times. While he was struggling Sunday, Jeff Hoffman was pitching well for Triple-A Albuquerque. Acquired from Toronto in the July deal that sent shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Blue Jays, Hoffman gave up two runs in six innings Sunday without figuring in the decision. In four starts, Hoffman is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA. Opponents are hitting .226 against Hoffman, who has nine walks and 19 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings. Hoffman, 23, was the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft despite undergoing Tommy John surgery one month before the draft.
Left-hander Kyle Freeland, who turns 23 on May 14, was the Rockies' first-round pick in 2014 and the eighth player taken overall. He is pitching at Double-A Hartford, where he is 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts with three walks and 13 strikeouts in 24 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .227 average.
Also at Hartford is Antonio Senzatela, 21. He is currently on the disabled list with a mild shoulder strain that caused him to leave his second start of the season April 14 after two innings. Senzatela is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in his two starts this season. He needs to get healthy and continue his development but is seen as a big part of the Rockies' pitching future, along with Hoffman and Freeland.
The Rockies will be looking for improvement from Lyles soon. Regardless, before too long, Hoffman and Freeland could give the Rockies better options in their rotation than Lyles.
