Last Straw For Franklin Morales This Weekend In Cleveland

May 8, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Franklin Morales (56) reacts during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies are a team looking to earn contender status but they aren’t going to get that easy. They have a problem at the back-end in the rotation with southpaw Franklin Morales. Sure, the lefty has won three games for the club but is sitting with an ERA nearly in the sixes — 5.65. Although he hasn’t gotten the run support of other pitchers on the team, the 28-year-old is on the brink of his last start.

The month of May has not been kind to the Venezuela native has he has surrendered 21 earned runs in 26 innings of work, giving up 33 hits in that span. He is 0-3 in the month of May after starting the season out 3-1. One stat that also pops out as a concern is the amount of long-balls he has given up which is 11 — tied for 4th most in the MLB.

The only reason I can think Morales is in the starting rotation is due to his performance against the San Francisco Giants on May 20th. Franklin picked up the no-decision but pitched six innings, giving up five hits, three runs, one walk, while striking out six. In his last start against Atlanta, it was a complete nightmare. He would give up three homers, including five earned in 4.2 innings, picking up his fourth loss of the season as his ERA skyrocketed to 5.65.

If the Colorado Rockies are serious about contention and winning games now, the time is now to bring someone else up who can give them a chance of winning. In case you missed the article a couple of weeks ago about options in the rotation, make sure to follow the link.

Morales will get the start Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Indians.