With one game to win, which Rockies starting pitcher gets the ball?

Kiz: Well, well, well. The Rockies might win 90 games — and dare I say — their first division title, despite the June swoon, bullpen woes and the up-and-down season of Charlie Blackmon. The reason? The best starting pitching in club history. Even a knucklehead like me knows that. Down the stretch of the regular season or in the playoffs, if the Rockies really need to win a game, which starting pitcher do you want on the bump? Saunders: As Mike “Shanny” Shanahan used to say, ‘You are a troublemaker, aren’t you?’ Making me choose the so-called “ace” of this young staff? OK, here goes. It comes down to one of three pitchers: lefty Kyle Freeland and righthanders Jon Gray and German Marquez. Gray has the biggest arm and Marquez has the best pure “stuff,” so naturally I’m going to put the baseball in the hand of Freeland, the Denver kid. Kiz: Before I go further, let me tip my cap to Gray. When he was sent down to the minor leagues, I thought it was a big sign the big expectations for the Rockies in 2018 were more than Gray and the team could handle. But in his last six starts, Gray has posted a nifty 2.55 earned run average and Colorado’s record is 6-0. The disaster in the 2017 playoffs is finally behind him. I believe Gray would relish taking the ball in a big game. Nevertheless … Saunders: When fans, friends and family ask me to name my favorite Rockies players, I always mention the “Gray Wolf.” Win or lose, bad game or good game, he’s always honest and accountable. His comeback is one of the best stories of a tantalizing season. And I agree that Gray wants another chance, but I think Freeland is the most mentally tough pitcher in the rotation. Kiz: There are oodles of feel-good stories in the Colorado dugout. The emergence of Trevor Story as a bona fide star. Carlos Gonzalez becoming CarGo again. The cool hand of manager Bud Black. But the best story is Freeland, the local guy who can beat the altitude and baffle foes with a changeup. His bulldog mentality helped the Rockies get through the hard times. With one game to win, I want Freeland on the bump. Saunders: Well, I could have told you that! Wait, I already did! One of the things I like so much about Freeland is his ability to adjust during a game. When he gets in trouble, he usually finds a way out of it. I don’t have as much faith that Gray or Marquez can do that. You mentioned Freeland’s ability to pitch at altitude. Consider this: In 11 starts at Coors Field, he is 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA, 61 strikeouts, a 1.14 WHIP and a .213 batting average against. In one game at Coors, I’ll take Freeland over anybody — regardless of uniform.