Rockies Lucky?

A FAN 104.3 caller suggested last week that much of the Rockies' second half success can be attributed to the fact they have successfully avoided the staff aces of their opposition.  Let's check the facts. 

The Rockies after last night have played 37 games after the All-Star break.  If you sort the Rockies and opposition pitching staffs by ERA, you get the following head-to-head pitching results:

Notables:

• Wins and losses based on starting pitchers and the resulting team W-L (not necessarily the pitchers of record)
• #6 pitchers are either spot starters or those that have not cracked the top five in games started for their club.  I broke the rule with Cliff Lee and made him a #1.  By they way, as of today, Cain is the #1 starter for the Giants by the tiniest of ERA differences.
• We have been fortunate to trot Jimenez out for 8 games versus only facing 5 opposition #1's.  In 37 games you would normally expect to see #1 pitchers 7-8 times (if they are healthy and available).
• We are very fortunate to have only had one spot start in the second half
• We have struggled against #1's (1-4)
• We have crushed the #6 pitchers (11-0)
• Apart from facing a larger number of #6 pitchers, otherwise pretty equally distributed between 1 and 5
• Jimenez, Marquis, and DLR have done the heaving lifting for team wins in the second half.  Cook and Hammel not so much.
• Hammel has drawn four of the five #1 opposition starters (not great results)