Because here’s the reality: WAR doesn’t always evaluate pitchers at Coors Field particularly well. Why Coors breaks clean metricsMost public pitcher WAR (Wins Above Replacement) models rely on two approaches:FIP-based WAR (FanGraphs) — built from strikeouts, walks, and home runs. At Coors, Freeland threw 93.2 innings with a 2.40 ERA — not just surviving, but thriving. On paper, a ~2 WAR pitcher looks replaceable. Kyle Freeland isn’t an ace in the traditional sense.

Source: New York Times March 21, 2026 12:16 UTC