Blackmon adapting to cleanup spot in lineup

LOS ANGELES -- After staying productive offensively while making a position switch this season, Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon faces -- and embraces -- more potential change in 2020.

The team’s primary leadoff batter since 2014, Blackmon has batted cleanup in manager Bud Black's reconstructed lineup in seven of the last eight games, as he was there again for Friday night's 12-5 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The Rockies have devoted much of the end of the season to testing and tuning, but it didn’t take them long to like what they were seeing. Blackmon, 33, moved from center field to right this year to reduce wear. The change in batting order could enhance one of Blackmon’s strengths.

“It’s a little intriguing, just because Charlie is a run producer,” Black said. “He knocked in 100 runs from the leadoff spot two years ago. He’s a threat with power. He can hit for average. We’ll talk about it more in the offseason and Spring Training, but I sort of like the way it looks.”

Trevor Story has adjusted quickly to the leadoff position, so that stuck. Originally, Blackmon dropped behind Story to No. 2, where he hit at times the last few years when DJ LeMahieu (now with the Yankees) stepped into the leadoff role. But in Blackmon's first six games batting fourth, he hit .316 (6-for-19) with three home runs and five RBIs. If over a long period his cleanup production resembles what he has done at leadoff, the move could work.

According to STATS Inc., since 2014, Blackmon’s 422 RBIs and 147 home runs make him the leader among MLB leadoff batters in both categories. And if you put his stats alongside hitters who batted cleanup over the same period, he would have one fewer home run than Nelson Cruz and would be ahead of Edwin Encarnacion’s 415 RBIs.

“I kind of like it,” Blackmon said. “It puts me in a situation to where I can have a quality at-bat and not necessarily get a hit, drive in a run with a sac fly.

“I do get pitched differently. It’s made me better. I’ve had to get better with my strike zone. Guys are a little less willing to go right over the plate early in the count. Seems they want to try to nibble.”

Even though the Rockies play at offense-friendly Coors Field and annually rank high in stats such as batting average and runs scored, there has been a nagging feeling that they’re not efficient enough offensively.

In Spring Training, Black tried putting right-handed-hitting Nolan Arenado, usually third or fourth, in the No. 2 hole behind left-handed-hitting Blackmon. But Arenado struggled, then stated his preference to bat third or fourth and the idea fizzled.

The late-season move of Story -- who has 33 home runs and a team-leading 21 steals -- to the top of the order opens different possibilities.

Left-handed-hitting David Dahl -- who joined Arenado, Blackmon and Story at the All-Star Game and posted an .877 OPS before his year ended with an Aug. 2 right ankle injury -- could potentially slot in second. Arenado (41 homers, 118 RBIs) and Blackmon (team-leading .318 average, 30 homers, 81 RBIs) can take the right-left pattern through the cleanup spot.

“You’ve got basestealers, you’ve got an on-base component at the top, so it makes sense,” Black said. “If Nolan stays at No. 3 ahead of Charlie, it makes sense.”

Freeland in the middle game?
Left-hander Kyle Freeland, out since Aug. 21 with a left groin strain, could be called upon for a start against the Giants in San Francisco next week. However, Black did not deny the possibility of Freeland getting into Saturday’s game at Dodger Stadium.

Freeland, who threw a 50-pitch simulated game on Tuesday, will be on a 35-40 pitch limit in his first appearance, according to Black. The Rockies will try to build Freeland up to the 45-60 range his next time out. With only nine games remaining in 2019, the southpaw may not have another outing beyond that.

It’s been an inconsistent season for Freeland, who has missed time due to various injuries while also spending a good portion of the year with Triple-A Albuquerque due to his struggles. In 20 Major League starts, he has a 6.98 ERA, well above his stellar 2.85 mark from 2018.