SAN DIEGO — The rapid rise of Rockies pitching through the first month of the season netted Colorado’s staff two league awards Wednesday: Antonio Senzatela was named the National League rookie of the month and veteran Greg Holland was tabbed the NL reliever of the month.
Senzatela, the right-hander set to start Wednesday night against the Padres, streaked to a 3-1 record with a 2.81 ERA in his first five starts. Even with a low strikeout-to-walk ratio (18 Ks and seven passes), he is allowing a rotation-best 1.00 WHIP (walks and hits per inning). His best outing, a four-hit effort over seven innings April 22 against the Giants at netted the Rockies a 12-3 victory.
The 22-year-old Venezuela native jumped into the big leagues with aplomb, earning a rotation spot out of spring training after pitching just seven games in Double-A last season, then skipping over Triple-A.
Holland, 31, was dominant in 12 appearances through April, going 11-for-11 in save situations with just two runs allowed in 12 innings, good for a 1.50 ERA. He, too, has a 1.00 WHIP, with just seven hits against him.
Holland’s 18-month recovery from Tommy John surgery, after he was signed by the Rockies in the offseason as a kind of reclamation project, put him back among baseball’s elite closers. In 2013-14, he pitched to consecutive sub-2.00 ERAs with the Royals. With the Rockies, he has anchored a drastic bullpen turnaround — Colorado’s relief corps ranks fourth in the NL with a collective 1.20 WHIP despite pitching half its games at bloop-friendly Coors Field.
Looking ahead
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-1, 2.93 ERA) at Padres RHP Luis Perdomo (0-0, 4.96), Thursday, 1:40 p.m., no TV, 850 AM
Freeland is forcing a higher percentage of groundballs than any starting pitcher in baseball through the first month — a trait suited well for a defense that includes Gold Gloves at third, in Nolan Arenado, and second, in DJ LeMahieu. Freeland, showing a two-pitch mix of cutting fastballs and sliders, allowed just one run in six innings over the weekend at Arizona. The 23-year-old will pitch at Petco Park for the first time in his rookie season.
Friday: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 3.19 ERA) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.71), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Saturday: Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (2-3, 2.29) at Rockies RHP German Marquez (0-1, 7.20), 6:10 p.m., ROOT
Sunday: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (3-1, 4.19) at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (2-4, 5.40), 1:10 p.m., ROOT
