Is it too early to open the all-star ballot yet?
Rockies’ reliever Adam Ottavino, who threw two scoreless innings during Thursday night’s win in San Francisco to lower his season line to an absurd 1.08 ERA and 0.64 WHIP, continues to make a case for himself as the best reliever in the National League.
Ottavino currently ranks second among the league’s relievers in strikeout percentage at48.9 percent, with 44 Ks in 90 batters faced, and has been the linchpin out of the Colorado bullpen as the deadly prelude to closer Wade Davis.
A dedication to pitch design in the offseason resulted in a slider that appears as if it’s being controlled by a joystick, and Ottavino’s sabermetics indicate just how hard it’s been to square a ball up on him in 2018.
The right-hander is second in fWAR at 1.0, a statistic that determines the number of wins a player adds to his team compared to a replacement level player, and is seventh in batting average on balls in play (BABIP) at .176.
Even when batters are able to overcome the odds and put wood on the ball, only20.0 percent of Ottavino’s pitches this year have been hard hit, ranking him fifth in the league in that category. And per StatCast, only 3.2 percent of his total pitches have found a barrel.
If he keeps this up, Ottavino is a shoe-in to make his first all-star team, and should be one of the first relievers Dodgers manager Dave Roberts calls upon onJuly 17 at Nationals Park.
And if he keeps this up through the second half — while playing a pivotal role in, perhaps, a Rockies’ push for their first divisional title — Ottavino will have turned in the greatest regular season in Rockies relieving history.—
Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Denver Post and .
What’s on tap?
- At San Francisco Giants, 8:15 p.m. Friday, ATTRM
- At San Francisco Giants, 2 p.m. Saturday, ATTRM
- At San Francisco Giants, 2 p.m. Sunday, ATTRM
- At Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:10 p.m. Monday, ATTRM
- At Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, ATTRM
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Scores, Stats and Standings
Must-Read
Former Rockies ace Jeff Francis happily living the dad life while working with the Canadian Junior National Team
More than three years removed from an 11-season, six-team journeyman career, former Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis has found his retirement groove as a father of three and assistant pitching coach for theCanadian Junior National Team. Read more…
In debut season with the Rockies, closer Wade Davis’ excellence has become an uninteresting expectation
Who Davis has been this season is everything Colorado thought he would be when the club inked him toa three-year, $52 million deal in Decemberthat made the former Ray, Royal and Cub themost expensive reliever in major league history by annual value. Read more…
Rockies Mailbag: Struggling offense has been a huge disappointment for Colorado
Yes, the Rockies’ offense has been a huge disappointment, and signing Ian Desmond to five years and $70 million is looking more and more like a giant mistake. However, the offense is bound to get better, and perhaps Bridich will be gutsy enough to add a bat to the lineup before the trade deadline. Read more…
Quick Hits
+Rockies podcast: Outfielder David Dahl on his journey to the big leagues
+Rockies manager Harry “Bud” Black got his nickname from the 1950’s sitcom “Father Knows Best”
+The first inning continues to be kryptonite for Rockies right-hander German Marquez
+DJ LeMahieu, Rockies second baseman, has “small broken bone” in thumb
+With the Rockies continuing to strike out at an unsustainable clip, Colorado’s collective approach must improve
+Rockies manager Bud Black on sports betting: “Why should it only be in Vegas?”
+Saunders: First base used to be Rockies’ strength, now itap their chronic problem
+Kiszla vs. Saunders: How much will the Colorado Rockies miss DJ LeMahieu when he’s gone?
+Fantasy Baseball 2018: Are the Colorado Rockies unreliable?
+ Want to chat about the Rockies? .
By The Numbers
13
The trend of rocky starts to outings is seen most clearly in Marquez’s inning splits. In his nine first innings this season, he has a13.00 ERA while allowing four homers, issuing eight walks and being hit at a.380 clip. Read more
Parting Shot
Chief Wahoo protester pleads guilty to theft of federal grant money aimed at helping Native Americans
A man who has held protests saying the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo mascot is racist has pleaded guilty to stealing money from federal grants aimed at helping Native Americans. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion,email me at dboniface@denverpost.comortweet me .
