BSN Rockies Podcast: Colorado pitching at an all-time rate | BSN Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are flat-out pitching. The starting rotation is 8th in baseball in fewest home runs per nine innings, and ranks 10th in strikeouts. The relief pitching has also been stellar. The bullpen ranks 3rd in baseball in ground-ball percentage.
In terms of individual accomplishments, Chad Bettis is tied for 7th among qualified MLB starters in fewest earned runs allowed, with 10. Bettis’ 2.05 ERA ranks 8th in the bigs. The bullpen features Adam Ottavino topping the charts in several categories. Ottavino is 2nd in strikeouts, 3rd in ERA, and 4th in fewest hits allowed. Chris Rusin, despite missing time due to injury, ranks 8th among MLB relievers in ground-ball percentage.
For many of these successes, one needs to travel back to 2010 to find numbers as dominant for a Rockies pitching staff. With another excellent outing from Kyle Freeland on Sunday, one of the best pitched runs in franchise history continues for the Rox. This, among other topics, headlines the discussion for Drew Creasman in the latest edition of the BSN Rockies podcast.
Colorado Rockies: No one is pitching better than them right now | Rox Pile
It gets even better when you look at the Rockies’ pitching numbers since April 23. During this stretch, the team is tied for 2nd in the game with fewest home runs allowed, alone in 2nd with fewest hits allowed and fewest earned runs allowed, 6th in strikeouts per nine innings and home runs per nine innings, and 10th in fewest walks.
Over the past two weeks, the Rockies’ starting rotation has the lowest walk per nine rate in all of baseball.
Purple Row’s Nick McIntyre also detailed the resurgence provided by the pitching staff here.
Colorado Rockies series recap: The brooms are out in the Big Apple | Rox Pile
The pitching was key in the Rockies’ sweep of the New York Mets in this weekend’s three game series. Freeland, Bettis, and German Marquez all provided quality starts. After Game 1’s offensive outburst on Friday evening, the bats were largely quiet in Games 2 and 3. A Nolan Arenado solo home run and David Dahl RBI single accounted for the only runs on Saturday, while two solo shots by Ian Desmond and an RBI walk for Gerardo Parra provided Sunday’s scoring.
Colorado Rockies: Why picking up Matt Harvey isn’t crazy | Rox Pile
Could the Rockies improve their pitching staff even further with the addition of Matt Harvey, who was recently designated for assignment by the New York Mets? Rox Pile’s Olivia Green suggests that he may be worth taking a flyer on. Harvey is only 29 years of age, and might be a reclamation project in the making.
Colorado Rockies: Injuries within the division opening doors | Rox Pile
The Rockies have had to deal with injuries here and there to begin 2018. Blackmon, Rusin, DJ LeMahieu, and Carlos Gonzalez have all missed more than a few days of time due to injury. However, the Rox have managed to miss out on any debilitating injuries, though the same can’t be said for some of their National League West rivals. The Los Angeles Dodgers have been decimated by injuries to Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, Rich Hill, and now Clayton Kershaw, among others.
Colorado Rockies: The impact of DJ LeMahieu’s return | Rox Pile
In fortunate Rockies injury news, LeMahieu is expected to be activated ahead of today’s home series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. LeMahieu and his .290/.367/.505 slash line will be a welcome return to the top of the Rockies’ order. Daniel Castro will likely be optioned to make room on the active roster.
Black confident CarGo’s bat will heat up | Rockies.com
Gonzalez, Desmond, and Chris Iannetta are a combined 57-for-278 (.205) to begin 2018, but Manager Bud Black is not concerned. Black was specifically referring to CarGo when he stated his expectations for more productive at-bats in the future, but threw the names of Desmond and Iannetta into the conversation as players in a similar boat.
MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Week | MLB.com
Jordan Patterson (PuRP No. 14) made MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Week. Playing first base for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies, Patterson hit his seventh home run of the season in Monday afternoon’s game. On the season, Patterson is delivering a .245/.372/.482 triple slash. Patterson is undoubtedly ready for a Major League role, but doesn’t seem to be a serious consideration for the current Rockies’ MLB roster.