By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies are 4-1 on this young season. the best record in the National League. They are a half game ahead of the L.A. Dodgers for 1st place in the National League West. Coming into this season pitching would be the question mark.
The Rockies were hoping the starting pitching would be improved from last year. Pitchers couldn’t keep the team in games. The starting pitcher ERA was a disappointing 5.87, last in MLB. The bullpen wasn’t much better. Colorado’s bullpen couldn’t keep them in games or pitch them to stay ahead. The bullpen ERA was 5.18. Colorado didn’t make any moves in the offseason to upgrade the pitching but cut pitchers Brian Shaw and Jake McGee.
Flip to this season. The Rockies pitching has improved. The first 5 games have been on the road away from Coors Field. The Rockies total team ERA is 1.84, 1st in MLB. Starting pitching has been able to do their job and work deep into games. They haven’t given up the big innings. When they are in a jam, they strike batters out or have them pop out. The starters’ ERA is an impressive 2.30.
With the starters going 6 or 7 innings, the bullpen is allowed to rest. Manager Bud Black hasn’t needed to call on the bullpen as much so far. When the relievers are in the game, the Rockies trust them to do their job. They force outs which helps the Rockies keep the lead. The Rockies bullpen ERA is 1.08 to this point. This is what has helped them be where they are in the standings so far.
Colorado knows it is early in the season. This is just a small sample size so far. Colorado understands that to become one of the 8 playoff teams in the National League, pitching must be there. If not, Colorado could be looking at a long season. Hopefully, the pitching can keep it up for them to have a deep run come October.
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