The Colorado Rockies are mired in a historic slide, having lost five straight games to fall to a 6-30 record as of May 9, 2025, a .167 winning percentage that puts them on pace for a staggering 135 losses. Following a crushing 10-2 defeat to the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader on May 8, Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland delivered an emotional plea to Denver sports fans, as highlighted in a post by
@PatrickDLyons on X: “Keep believing in us. Keep riding.” The heartfelt message underscores the frustration and resilience of a team grappling with one of the worst starts in MLB history.
A Season of Struggles
The Rockies’ latest loss came in a doubleheader sweep by the Tigers, with Colorado falling 10-2 and 11-1 at Coors Field. The opener saw Freeland, a Denver native and the team’s Opening Day starter, struggle mightily, surrendering nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits in just three innings. Defensive miscues, including errors by second baseman Adael Amador and shortstop Alan Trejo, compounded the damage, turning routine plays into costly blunders. The second game was no better, as Detroit’s offense overwhelmed Colorado’s pitching, dropping the Rockies to a 6-31 mark, tying the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the worst 37-game start in the modern era.
Colorado’s woes are comprehensive. Their .211 team batting average is the lowest in the majors, paired with a league-high 312 strikeouts. The pitching staff’s 5.30 ERA ranks third-worst, and their EY25 errors are among the most in MLB, belying owner Dick Monfort’s preseason claim of a potentially historic defense. The team’s -109 run differential is the worst in the league, projecting a season-long deficit that could surpass the 1932 Red Sox’s modern-era record of -345. Freeland himself has been emblematic of the struggles, posting a 0-5 record with a 6.41 ERA and 1.65 WHIP through eight starts.
Freeland’s Emotional Plea
Freeland, who grew up rooting for the Rockies and set a franchise record with his 207th career start on May 2, has taken the team’s collapse personally. After his rough outing against Detroit, the 31-year-old lefty was visibly emotional, his voice cracking as he addressed the media. “We’re playing a bad brand of baseball… all around. Pitching, fielding, hitting… bad,” he said candidly, before urging fans to stay loyal. His message, “Keep believing in us. Keep riding,” reflects a desperate hope to rally support amid a season that feels increasingly hopeless.
The Denver native, who signed a five-year, $64.5 million extension in 2022, has been a beacon of consistency for the Rockies in the past, with a career-best 17-7 record and 2.84 ERA in 2018. But 2025 has been a nightmare, with Freeland allowing 58 hits in 39.1 innings and struggling to find the form that once earned him fourth place in NL Cy Young voting. His new sweeper pitch, developed in the offseason, has shown promise with a .192 batting average against, but defensive lapses and offensive struggles have left him with little margin for error.
Can the Rockies Turn It Around?
At 6-30, the Rockies are 18.5 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and face a brutal schedule, with their next 27 games against teams above .500, including the Padres, Royals, and Reds. Their lone bright spot has been occasional offensive contributions from Ryan McMahon and Michael Toglia, but even those have been drowned out by the team’s overall ineptitude. Injuries to Kris Bryant, who is set to undergo a back procedure, and Germán Márquez’s 9.82 ERA have further hampered the roster.
Freeland’s call for faith echoes the Rockies’ improbable 2007 World Series run, which followed two losing seasons. But with a young core still finding its footing—players like Adael Amador and Jordan Beck are learning on the job—and a front office criticized for minimal offseason moves, the path to respectability seems daunting. The Rockies’ two wins in San Francisco on May 1-2, including a 4-3 victory where Freeland pitched six strong innings, offer a faint glimmer of hope, but their five-game skid has erased any momentum.
A Plea Amid the Pain
Freeland’s message to fans is both a cry for support and a reflection of the Rockies’ dire state. Colorado’s faithful, once energized by the 2017-2018 playoff runs, are growing disillusioned, with some citing the 2021 Nolan Arenado trade as the moment their fandom waned. Yet Freeland, who carries the weight of his hometown team’s struggles, remains defiant, urging Denver to stay in the fight. Whether the Rockies can reward that loyalty with wins remains uncertain. For now, at 6-30, they’re chasing infamy, and Freeland’s words are a plea to keep the faith in a season teetering on the edge of historic failure.
