The numbers frame the Rockies’ dilemma.
In August, the club’s three best starters have been excellent: is 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA; is 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA; and is 1-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
The club’s other two starters have struggled: is 0-4 with an 11.39 ERA; is 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA.
With 32 games left, and a chance at winning their first National League West title within reach, Colorado can’t afford to go forward with only three-fifths of a rotation performing at a sufficient level.
So what do the Rockies do?
After talking to manager Bud Black on Sunday, before and after Anderson got lit up by the Cardinals in a 12-3 loss, I do not get the sense that Anderson’s spot in the rotation is in jeopardy. I could be wrong, but it sounds like Black believes Anderson can work out his mechanical flaws.
Still, he’s looked bad on the mound. After getting rocked for six runs on seven hits in just two-thirds of an inning, Anderson insisted he’s healthy and not fatigued.
“The frustrating thing is that I feel better than I ever have,” he said.
Anderson, in my opinion, could use a tune-up in Triple-A, like the one that helped Gray turn his season around. But it’s too late for that, so Anderson has to find his lost command — and in a hurry.
Senzatela is just 23 and remains a raw talent, yet quite a few steps behind his buddy Marquez, at least in terms of pitching maturity. With the September call-ups coming soon, I would not be shocked if Senzatela was replaced in the rotation by right-hander , pitching at the moment for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Hoffman has pitched two consecutive strong games for the Isotopes. He retired the first 18 batters he faced Saturday night before Reno’s Ildemaro Vargas ended his perfect-game bid with a lead-off double in the seventh inning. Hoffman ended up yielding two runs, four hits and no walks over seven innings. Hoffman struck out seven Saturday night to give him 267 strikeouts in his Isotopes career, surpassing Jeff Fulchino for the second-most in team history.
But strikeouts, and overall performance, at the Triple-A level don’t always transfer to the majors, and the front office sees things we never will. So it remains to be seen if Colorado will trust putting Hoffman in the rotation during a pennant race.
Right-hander , supplanted in the rotation by Senzatela, is another possibility, but he’s not stretched out and he struggled Sunday in relief of Anderson, giving up four unearned runs on four hits over 3 ⅓ innings.
The Rockies have just three off days remaining over the final 35 days of the season, so there’s not a lot of juggling that can be done with the rotation.
Overall, Colorado’s starters have done a terrific job this season, but now it’s getting down to crunch time and someone has to step up and become a serviceable starter at the back end of the rotation.
Looking ahead
Rockies RHP Jon Gray (10-7, 4.67 ERA) at Angels RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2, 6.35), 8 p.m. Monday; ATTRM, ESPN, 850 AM
After Tyler Anderson’s meltdown vs. the Cardinals on Sunday, in which Anderson gave up 6 runs in two-thirds of an inning, the Rockies really need a strong start. Gray is just the man to provide it. Colorado has won nine consecutive games with Gray on the mound, tied for the longest streak in franchise history. In seven starts since being recalled from Triple-A, the reborn Gray is 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA, 43 strikeouts and just 10 walks. The right-hander dominated the Angels at on May 8, pitching seven scoreless innings and giving up only four hits in Colorado’s 4-2 victory. Despaigne, acquired from Miami on Aug. 14, is making his 14th appearance (fourth start) of the season. In his two games with Angels, he’s 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. However, he’s fared well against the Rockies in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in three starts. His three wins vs. Colorado are his most against any opponent. — Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Tuesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (11-7, 2.96) at Angels TBA, 8:07 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Off day
Thursday: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-4, 5.24) at Padres LHP Clayton Richard (7-11, 5.33), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (11-9, 4.21) at Padres RHP Brett Kennedy (0-2, 7.58), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
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