Rockies Trevor Story starts second half strong - MLB.com
Rockies shortstop Trevor Story has emerged from a long slump as the second half has gotten underway, going 5-for-14 with three doubles since the All-Star Break. He also broke a streak of 20 straight games with a strikeout in Monday's win over the Padres. Max Gelman has more on Story's breakout.
David Dahl might not return this season; Kyle Freeland remains out of Rockies' rotation - The Denver Post
David Dahl's return from a rib injury might not come this season, according to Rockies manager Bud Black. The 23-year-old outfielder is 7-for-21 with a triple, a home run and three walks on a rehab assignment that Black said would be extended with Dahl not having played in games since late February. Also, Black said the Rockies would use Thursday's off day to skip Kyle Freeland in the rotation as the team is trying to limit his innings this season.
Bullpen struggles show Rockies' trade need - MLB.com
Thomas Harding uses Monday's rough eighth inning in which four Rockies relievers combined to allow three runs to illustrate the team's need to add to the bullpen at the trade deadline, calling it the team's biggest need.
Greg Holland's slider is dominating opponents - MLB.com
One place in the bullpen the Rockies do not need to upgrade is at closer, where Greg Holland recorded his league-leading 29th save Monday. Matt Kelly examined how Holland has used his slider effectively this season, and how key it has been to his success.
Inside-the-park homer stands for Charlie Blackmon, even if the effort was unnecessary - The Denver Post
Nick Groke took a look at Charlie Blackmon's inside-the-park home run from Sunday that should have been ruled a regular home run. However, no one challenged that the ball hit above the orange line on the fence to be a home run, so the ruling of an inside-the parker stayed.
Shameless Plug
@PurpleRow pic.twitter.com/DwfgJ5JCGw
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) July 18, 2017
Hey look, that’s Bud Black in Purple Row’s Nolan Arenado walk-off cycle t-shirt in his postgame press conference last night. You can get one for yourself right here.
Around the NL West
Giants lose children’s game in silly fashion - McCovey Chronicles
In the only other NL West action, the Giants lost to Cleveland because the Giants are a bad baseball team. They are now 29.5 games behind the first-place Dodgers and 18.5 games behind the Rockies.