Rockies, Marlins seek positive start to 34th seasons

The Colorado Rockies and then-Florida Marlins entered the majors together as expansion teams in 1993.

On Friday, the Rockies and Marlins will meet on the diamond in Miami to open their 34th seasons.

Colorado and Miami split six games in 2025, with the road team recording a sweep in both series.

Not much is expected out of either team this season. ESPN ranks Miami as just the 25th-best team in baseball, and Colorado comes in at No. 30 -- dead last.

The Rockies had the worst record in the majors last season at 43-119, and their run differential (minus-424) was the worst in the modern era of baseball history.

Miami, which finished 79-83, will turn to right-hander Sandy Alcantara to start the game on Friday.

Alcantara, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, started last season less than 100 percent following elbow surgery that caused him to miss all of the 2024 season.

Through May of last season, Alcantara had an 8.47 ERA, among the worst in baseball for a starter. But Alcantara recovered and had a 3.33 ERA over his final 13 starts. And, in six career starts against Colorado, he has a 3-2 record and a 4.58 ERA.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said naming Alcantara his Opening Day starter was one of the easiest decisions of the spring, adding: "I'm most proud of how he pushed forward last year."

Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland will get the start on Friday.

Freeland, whose stuff is not overpowering. hasn't had a winning record since going 17-7 in 2018.

Last season, he won five games and lost a major-league worst 17 with a 4.98 ERA. But at least he was durable, making 31 starts while adding a sweeper to his repertoire. This year, he has added a cutter and a changeup.

In nine career appearances against the Marlins, Freeland is 4-1 with a 3.77 ERA.

Freeland is optimistic the organization will improve now that the Rockies hired Paul DePodesta as president of baseball operations. DePodesta spent 20 years with MLB teams, including a stint as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before being named the Cleveland Browns' chief strategy officer in 2016.

"Fair or not, we needed a change," Freeland said.

Pitching is Colorado's biggest issue. Last year, the Rockies' rotation had a 6.65 ERA, which was the highest in the majors since that statistic was created in 1913. Colorado's bullpen had a 5.18 ERA, the second-worst in baseball history.

Catcher Hunter Goodman is coming off a breakthrough season that included 28 doubles, five triples, 31 homers and 91 RBIs. Goodman, 26, was Colorado's fourth-round pick in 2021, and he was the Rockies' lone All-Star last year.

This year, the Rockies are hoping for breakthroughs from first baseman TJ Rumfield and third baseman Kyle Karros. Both have made an MLB Opening Day roster for the first time and are expected to start on Friday.

The Rockies also added two veteran starters to the lineup: second baseman/outfielder Willi Castro and left fielder Jake McCarthy.

Miami added just two expected starters to the lineup: veteran Christopher Morel, who is adjusting to a new position at first base and hit just .150 this spring; and rookie right fielder Owen Caissie.

The Marlins open the season without All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers, who suffered a hamstring injury late in camp.

Closer Pete Fairbanks was Miami's biggest free-agent signee of the offseason, inking a one-year, $13 million deal. With the Tampa Bay Rays since 2019, he had 90 career saves, including 27 in 2025.

--Field Level Media