10 of the ’25 Rockies’ gnarliest numbers

The 2025 Rockies put up some ugly statistics on their way to the worst season in franchise history. Here are 10 of the gnarliest:

Minus-424: Run differential, the worst in Major League Baseball’s modern era, and the worst in Rockies history by a wide margin. The 2024 Rockies were outscored by a “mere” 247 runs.

.237: Lowest team batting average. Last year’s club hit .242, which had been the worst.

.679: Team OPS, the lowest in franchise history, eclipsing the ’24 team’s .704 OPS. The six worst OPS numbers in team history have come in the last six seasons.

1.582: The 2025 pitching staff gave up a lot of hits and walks, but its WHIP is only the fourth-worst in team history. The 1999 staff had the highest at 1.705.

3.69: Runs scored per game, the fewest in club history. Four of the five lowest-scoring seasons have come since 2022.

6.65: Starting pitchers’ ERA, the worst, by far, in club history. The 1999 rotation posted a 6.19 ERA.

18: Times the Rockies were shut out this season. The old record for being blanked was 16 times, last done in 2021.

251: Home runs allowed by Rockies pitchers, the second most behind the 2019 staff that served up a record 270 homers.

1,021: Runs scored against, second only to the 1999 club, which saw opponents score 1,028 runs.

1,531: Strikeouts for hitters this season, fourth-most in franchise history. The 2024 club whiffed a team-record 1,607 times.

A dreadful three-year run for Rockies baseball

The 2025 Rockies lost 119 games in 2025. It marks the third consecutive season that the Rockies topped 100 losses — the worst three-season stretch in franchise history. As bad as that three-year run has been, it doesn’t rank among the top 10 worst in Major League Baseball’s modern era (since 1901). Here’s how the 2023-25 Rockies compare.

Rank	Seasons	Team	Record (Win %)
1	1915-17	Philadelphia Athletics	134-324 (.293)
2	1940-42	Philadelphia Phillies	135-323 (.295)
3	1962-64	New York Mets	144-340 (.295)
4	1939-41	Philadelphia Phillies	138-320 (.301)
5	1919-21	Philadelphia Athletics	137-310 (.306)
6	1938-40	Philadelphia Phillies	140-314 (.308)
7	1909-11	Boston Doves/Rustlers (Braves)	142-315 (.311)
8	1937-39	St. Louis Browns (Orioles)	144-316 (.313)
9	1925-27	Boston Red Sox	144-315 (.314)
10	1952-54	Pittsburgh Pirates	145-317 (.314)
	2023-25	Colorado Rockies	163-323 (.335)

Source: Baseball Reference.

In trouble from the start

The 2025 Colorado Rockies’ starting rotation was statistically one of the worst in baseball’s modern era (since 1901). The following are the top-10 worst rotations, ranked by ERA:

Rank	Team	Season	ERA	Record	Win %	HRs	Avg.
1	Colorado Rockies	2025	6.654	22-93	.191	152	.307
2	Detroit Tigers	1996	6.643	29-80	.266	153	.303
3	St. Louis Browns	1939	6.34	33-93	.262	85	.314
4	Texas Rangers	2003	6.24	47-65	.420	147	.296
5	Colorado Rockies	1999	6.19	49-65	.430	159	.301
6	Philadelphia Phillies	1930	6.15	42-85	.331	107	.336
7	Minnesota Twins	1995	6.11	35-69	.337	135	.294
8	Philadelphia Phillies	1929	6.03	52-66	.441	90	.321
9	St. Louis Browns	1937	6.01	36-93	.279	111	.313
10	Texas Rangers	2001	6.00	51-58	.468	142	.304

Source: Opta Stats/Colorado Rockies/Baseball Reference

Scoreboard tells the story

The 2025 Rockies set the record for the worst run differential in a season during Major League Baseball’s modern era (since 1901).

Year	Team	Run differential
2025	Colorado Rockies	minus-424
1932	Boston Red Sox	minus-349
1915	Philadelphia Athletics	minus-344
2023	Oakland Athletics	minus-399
2003	Detroit Tigers	minus-337
2019	Detroit Tigers	minus-333
1954	Philadelphia Athletics	minus-333
1962	New York Mets	minus-331
1936	Philadelphia Athletics	minus-331
1916	Philadelphia Athletics	minus-329

Source: Baseball Reference

The Top 10 worst teams in modern Major League Baseball history

A look at the 10 worst teams in modern MLB history by number of losses, a list that includes the 2025 Colorado Rockies.

1.  

Record: 41-121 (.248)

Chicago topped the Mets’ longstanding record, losing 21 straight at one point and posting an ungodly 35% save percentage.

2.

Record: 40-120-1��(.250)

The first-year Mets had a roster of cast-offs from the expansion draft. Seven years later, New York won the World Series.

T-3.

Record: 43-119��(.265)

The Tigers won five of their final six games to avoid passing the Mets. But the rebuild worked, leading to a pennant in 2006.

T-3.

Record: 43-119 (.265)

Colorado had a club-record 13 rookies, set an MLB record for worst run differential and spent $27 million on an injured Kris Bryant.

5.

Record: 36-117-1��(.235)

With the lowest winning percentage of any modern team, all-time winningest manager Connie Mack’s squad hit just 19 homers all year.

T-6.

Record: 47-115��(.290)

The O’s tore down their roster at the trade deadline to launch a rebuild and finished 61 games out of first place in the AL East.

��-6.��

Record: 38-115��(.248)

Babe Ruth played 28 games for the Braves in his final season, batting just .181; Boston had 14-game and 15-game losing streaks.

8.

Record: 47-114 (.292)

The Tigers were an awful offensive club, racking up 1,595 strikeouts with just 149 homers; team was plagued by injuries after a 7-3 start.

9.

Record: 38-113-6 (.252)

Led by two player/managers, first catcher Malachi Kittridge and then outfielder Patsy Donovan, the Senators were shut out 27 times.

T-10.

Record: 50-112 (.309)

In the A’s worst season since moving to Oakland in 1968, the team had the lowest batting average (.223) and fewest runs (585) in MLB.

T-10.

Record: 50-112-2 (.309)

Slightly better than the ’62 team, the Mets lost 43 games after leading, were shut out 22 times, and had a .259 road win percentage.

T-10.

��𳦴ǰ���:��42-112-1��(.273)

The Pirates were a career low for Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey. They started and finished poorly; lost 35 games by five-plus runs.

Top 10 most embarrassing losses of the Rockies’ worst season ever

The Rockies set the modern record for worst run differential. Here’s a look at their 10 most embarrassing losses of 2025.

Padres 21, Rockies 0

Date: May 10 at Coors Field

The carnage: In the season’s worst loss, San Diego blasted Colorado starter Bradley Blalock for 12 runs in three-plus innings, including a five-run opening frame. Colorado mustered five hits to the Padres’ 24, and San Diego hit five homers as the Rockies became the sixth team in the modern era to lose by 21 or more runs in a shutout. The next day, the Rockies fired manager Bud Black.

They said it: “You never want to be in that position as a team, unless you’re winning,” catcher Jacob Stallings said.

Date: July 26 at Camden Yards

The carnage: In Baltimore’s largest shutout win in franchise history, the Rockies were already down 8-0 when the Orioles reeled off nine runs in the seventh. Colorado only had two hits while Baltimore had 18. Zach Agnos and Nick Anderson were both shelled in the seventh as Baltimore batted around in the frame, and then some. The Rockies got just one runner into scoring position.

They said it: “It����ap kind of one of those nights. I feel like everybody for the most part put good swings on the ball,” interim Baltimore manager Tony Mansolino said.

Blue Jays 20, Rockies 1

�ٲ��ٱ�:��Aug. 6 at Coors Field

The carnage: In a showdown between Colorado products Kevin Gausman (Grandview) and Kyle Freeland (Thomas Jefferson), the Rockies went up 1-0 in the first on Ezequiel Tovar’s RBI double. It was all Blue Jays from there as they racked up 24 hits and posted eight runs in the ninth. It capped a one-sided sweep in which Toronto set a modern MLB record with 63 hits in a three-game series.

They said it: “Pretty absurd,” Gausman said of Toronto’s hit total in the series.

Blue Jays 15, Rockies 1

�ٲ��ٱ�:��Aug. 4 at Coors Field

The carnage: In the opener of that historically lopsided series, Bo Bichette summoned his Blake Street Bombers bloodline with two homers and six RBIs. It was 9-0 by the time the Rockies got their run in the fifth, and eight of Toronto’s nine starters had multiple hits. Colorado starter Tanner Gordon was pummeled for seven runs through two plus innings; the bullpen didn’t fare much better.

They said it: “I just tried to make quality pitches, but they put the ball in play,” Gordon said. “… I’m sure that the bullpen doesn’t like me right now.”

Brewers 17, Rockies 2

�ٲ��ٱ�:��April 9 at Coors Field

The carnage: In a defeat that was an omen for the rest of the season, the Rockies didn’t stand a chance against Milwaukee. The Brewers rocked Antonio Senzatela early, then Seth Halvorsen late, and Colorado made four errors, including errors by Gold Glovers Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle in the same game for the first time.

They said it: “They hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Senzatela said. “Huge mistakes by me. I have to keep the ball down.”

Braves 12, Rockies 4

�ٲ��ٱ�:��June 13 at Truist Park

The carnage: The Rockies had a 4-1 lead entering the sixth inning, but the bullpen unraveled. Jake Bird and Victor Vodnik were both pegged for three runs apiece; Ryan Rolison allowed five runs. Colorado made four errors, tying a season high. The team was 4 for 14 with RISP as part of a season-long trend. The next day, the Rockies set a season-high with 19 strikeouts.

They said it: “We’ve got to get the job done — execution-wise — when runners are aboard,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said.

Yankees 13, Rockies 1

Date: May 24 at Coors Field

The carnage: The game was tied 1-1, then the wheels fell off. In a 10-run fifth inning — the most runs allowed in a frame by the Rockies all year — the Yankees blew it open in front of a heavy pro-New York crowd. A Kyle Freeland throwing error jump-started the big inning, which also featured a weird play where second baseman Adael Amador’s glove flew off in the direction of a line drive.

They said it: “Life is like baseball. You can have a really good game and then follow it up with a really bad one,” Amador said. “It����ap a normal feeling, but not a great one.”

Tigers 11, Rockies 1

�ٲ��ٱ�:��May 8 at Coors Field

The carnage: After Detroit rolled to a 10-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader, the Tigers stomped Colorado in the second game, too. The minus-18 run differential tied a franchise record for the largest negative run differential in a doubleheader sweep in franchise history. Colorado didn’t have an extra-base hit in Game 2, made two errors and reliever Tyler Kinley got lit up.

They said it: “We’re playing a bad brand of baseball, all the way around,” Kyle Freeland said after Game 1 of the doubleheader. “Pitching, fielding, hitting. It����ap bad.”

Mets 13, Rockies 5

�ٲ��ٱ�:��June 8 at Coors Field

The carnage: The Mets put on a home run clinic in LoDo, mashing six homers, including a pair off prized rookie right-hander Chase Dollander. It was a performance that underscored Dollander’s inconsistent season — especially at Coors. The six long balls given up were tied for the second-most at home in franchise history.

They said it: “To be honest with you, I’m not really doing my job right now,” Dollander said.

Dodgers 9, Rockies 0

�ٲ��ٱ�:��Sept. 10 at Dodger Stadium

The carnage: The Rockies managed just eight hits over the three-game series in L.A., including nearly getting no-hit in the opener. The Dodgers won the season series 11-2, and in the Sept. 10 thumping, Colorado notched only two hits and struck out 17 times as Blake Snell dominated.

They said it: “The changeup got us from Snell,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Spin got us last night, and spin got us the night before that. So, overall, it was a tough series for us.”

5 weird moments from Rockies’ bizarre lost season

The Rockies’ 2025 season wasn’t just about the mounting number of losses; it was about weird moments, games, innings, and trends. Here are five of them:

Slip of the glove

Date: May 24

Synopsis: The Yankees bludgeoned the Rockies, 13-1, on a Saturday afternoon at Coors Field. In the Yanks’ 10-run fifth inning, Rockies second baseman Adael Amador threw his glove at Paul Goldschmidt’s line-drive, run-scoring single to right field. Amador’s glove didn’t come close to hitting the ball, but if it had, Goldschmidt would have been awarded three bases.

They said it: “I didn’t have the glove tight on my hand. When I jumped up, the glove slipped off.” — Adael Amador

Purple pain

Date: June 25

Synopsis: Rookie right-hander Chase Dollander blanked the Dodgers for five innings at Coors, but in the top of the sixth, lightning crashed and the sky opened up. With two on and two out, Max Muncy hit a sky-high pop-up to the right side of the infield, where Colorado second baseman Thairo Estrada was ready to make the play. But Estrada lost the ball amid the rain and lights and covered his head. First baseman Michael Toglia covered his head, too, and was startled when the ball landed a few feet from him. Dalton Rushin and Shohei Ohtani scored easily, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. After a lengthy rain delay, the Dodgers cruised to an 8-1 victory.

They said it: “You can’t control Mother Nature, you can’t control a bunch of things.” — Chase Dollander

Wild night in LoDo

Date: Aug. 1

Synopsis: The Pirates scored nine runs in their first at-bat and led 16-10 after six innings, but the Rockies roared back with five runs in the ninth, winning the 3-hour, 37-minute score-a-thon on Brenton Doyle’s two-run homer. Colorado’s 17-16 victory at Coors marked just the 13th time in baseball’s modern era (since 1901) that a team allowed 16 runs and won. The Rockies also did it on July 4, 2008, beating the Marlins 18-17 at Coors.

They said it: “That����ap got to be the most incredible game I’ve ever been involved in, hands down, with all the stuff that went into it.” — Manager Warren Schaeffer

Catcher in the raw

Date: Aug. 6

Synopsis: With the Blue Jays leading 12-1 entering the ninth, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer waved the white flag, sending catcher Austin Nola to the mound. Four consecutive doubles, two homers and eight runs later, the Blue Jays had a 20-1 lead. The Blue Jays swept the three-game series, outscoring the Rockies 45-6 and hitting 13 homers. Colorado pitchers gave up 63 hits — the most ever compiled in baseball history over a three-game series. Austin Nola, whose brother is Philadelphia pitcher Aaron Nola, played the role of the good soldier.

They said it: “I’m sure I’m gonna get a text from Aaron. I’ll just blame it on (the hitter-friendly altitude of) Colorado or something.” — Austin Nola

Subject to ejection

Date: Sept. 2

Synopsis: Two batters and eight pitches into the game, Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland served up a towering, two-run homer to the Giants’ Rafael Devers. After Devers dramatically flipped his bat and began a slow-motion trot, Freeland screamed some choice words, telling Devers to quit showboating. What started as a war of words quickly evolved into a bench-clearing fracas. Freeland was ejected, San Francisco third baseman Matt Chapman was suspended one game for shoving Freeland, and the Giants’ Willy Adames and Devers were fined. The Giants won, 7-4, handing the Rockies their 100th loss of the season.

They said it: “Extremely disrespectful to show me up like that in the first inning after hitting a home run. Standing there, watching it, taking your sweet time getting down to first base.” — Kyle Freeland.

1B Charlie Condon, 22, Double-A Hartford: Injuries slowed Condon’s ascent, but he’s been raking for the Yard Goats since being promoted on July 2. Colorado’s first-round draft choice in 2024 (third overall) blasted his 10th Double-A homer on Wednesday and entered the weekend slashing .297/.415/.624 in 47 games. The Rockies like his maturity and learning ability.

OF Cole Carrig, 23, Double-A Hartford: With his speed in the outfield and on the bases, plus a strong, accurate arm, Carrig profiles as a future center fielder. The switch-hitter out of San Diego State (65th over pick in 2023) is slashing .232/.315/.392 with 14 homers and six doubles in 115 games. He’s stolen 44 bases, setting a Yard Goats club record.

RHP Gabriel Hughes, 24, Triple-A Albuquerque: The Rockies’ 2022 first-round pick (10th overall, Gonzaga) missed the ’24 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July ’23. The Rockies desperately need starting pitching, and Hughes will get a chance to compete for a rotation spot next spring. His comeback at Albuquerque was stalled for five weeks in July and August due to shoulder inflammation. He’s working on developing a repertoire that will play in the big leagues: four-seam and two-seam fastball (91-93 mph), changeup, curveball and slider. Over 11 Triple-A starts, he has a 5.74 ERA, averaging 4.4 walks and 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s improved over his last seven starts, posting a 4.02 ERA.

2B Roc Riggio, 23, Double-A Hartford: The Rockies obtained Roc Riggio and left-hander Ben Shields from the Yankees in return for relief pitcher Jake Bird ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Riggo — a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State in 2023 and ranked as the Yankees’ No. 10 prospect — is listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. However, he has power, and the Rockies hope he can evolve into the player they believed Brendan Rodgers would become. Over 81 games at three minor league levels this season, he’s slashed .256/.353/.519 with 19 home runs.

LHP Sean Sullivan, 23, Double-A Hartford: A second-round pick (No. 46 overall) from Wake Forest in 2023, Sullivan is often referred to as a “soft-tossing lefty.” He prefers to be called a technician, even though his fastball often comes in under 90 mph. After winning the High-A Northwest League pitcher of the year award last year with High-A Spokane, Sullivan underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right hip. He’s pitched well for the Yard Goats, posting a 3.09 ERA and 1.071 WHIP over 17 starts. He’s averaging 9.1 strikeouts and 2.2 walks per nine innings. Sullivan was in big-league camp last spring but was limited because of a hip problem. Expect the Rockies to take a hard look at him next spring.

OF Jared Thomas, 22, Double-A Hartford: A second-round pick out of Texas in 2024, Thomas is climbing the minor league ladder quickly. In 73 games with Spokane this season, he slashed .330/.427/.495 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. That earned him a promotion to Double-A on July 1. He’s not raking like he did at High-A, but Thomas is showing power, though he needs to improve his ability to get on base. In 38 Double-A games, he’s slashed .234/.319/.362. He projects as a corner outfielder.

OF Sterlin Thompson, 24, Triple-A Albuquerque: Thompson sizzled in August with a .421/.529/.754 slash line with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 18 games. That prompted speculation that he would be a September call-up. It didn’t happen, but the corner outfielder has had a strong Triple-A season, slashing .290/.387/.503 with 14 homers in 107 games. Thompson was taken 31st overall in the 2022 draft out of Florida with the compensation pick the Rockies received when shortstop Trevor Story signed with the Red Sox. The question for the Rockies is what they’re going to do with all of the outfield prospects.

Halvorsen, the 25-year-old, hard-throwing right-hander, was placed on the 15-day injured list with an elbow strain. He underwent an MRI on Sunday, but the Rockies were seeking multiple opinions and did not have anything to report after the Rockies’ 9-5 loss to Pittsburgh.

Halvorsen, 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA and 11 saves over 41 appearances, was abruptly pulled in the ninth inning of Colorado’s 8-5 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.

“We will know more after the MRI; I hate to speculate,” manager Warren Schaeffer said Sunday morning before the Rockies played the Pirates in the series finale.

The Rockies optioned Toglia to Triple-A Albuquerque for the second time this season. The emergence of hot-hitting Warming Bernabel left Toglia in limbo — and on the bench. The club believes that Toglia needs consistent at-bats if he’s going to escape a season-long slump characterized by a .194 batting average and a 38.3% strikeout rate.

In a corresponding move, the club recalled catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A, which gives the Rockies three catchers on the current 26-man roster. Fulford joins starter Hunter Goodman and veteran backup Austin Nola.

“Basically, the most important thing with that roster decision is to get Michael Toglia playing every day,” Schaeffer said. “So he’s going to go down to (Albuquerque) and play and work on what he needs to work on, to be better, so he can come back to help us. … Michael doesn’t need to be here and sit the bench. No good comes from that.”

Regarding having three catchers on the roster, Schaeffer said: “It’s good to have Braxton here. He’s a young player and it’s a good time to get him experience, moving into next year. So we will see how that catching scenario works out, obviously.

” ‘Goody’ is going to catch the majority of the games, but we have to discuss, as a staff, the catching situation.”

Toglia, who turns 27 on Aug. 16, remains an enigma. The 2019 first-round draft choice out of UCLA appeared to turn the corner last season. After his final recall from Triple-A on June 6, he slashed .232/.331/.470 in 100 games and hit 21 home runs, tying for 10th in the National League over that span. He started 90 consecutive games at first base through the end of the season.

But he’s regressed in 2025. Schaeffer said getting Toglia right will take both physical and mental adjustments.

“At some point, you just have to go and play better,” Schaeffer said. “That’s where Michael is. The mental resets — that’s happened this year, for sure — but he needs to go down there and work on what he needs to work on. He needs to flatten his bat path out. He needs to handle the top third of the zone where he’s swinging and missing a lot. He knows all of these things.”

Bullpen structure. Losing Halvorsen, no matter for how long, is a blow to an already thin bullpen. To shore up the ‘pen, the Rockies recalled veteran right-hander Nick Anderson from Triple-A.

Anderson, 35, got shelled in his one game with Colorado this season. In an 18-0 loss at Baltimore on July 26, he gave up five runs on six hits in one inning.

Before last week’s trade deadline, the Rockies dealt away veteran right-handed relievers Jake Bird (to the Yankees) and Tyler Kinley (Braves), leaving the bullpen inexperienced. Plus, rookie right-hander Zach Agnos went on the 15-day IL on July 27 with a right flexor strain.

Schaeffer said that right-handers Victor Vodnik and Juan Mejia will man the back end of the bullpen, with veteran Jimmy Herget also pitching late in games more frequently.

Left-hander Carson Palmquist will primarily be used as a long reliever, though he could see time later in games against left-handed hitters.

Crim claimed. The Rockies claimed first baseman Blaine Crim off waivers from the Rangers Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A. Crim, 28, made his big league debut with Texas earlier this year but he played in just five games, going 0 for 11 with a walk and six strikeouts. Crim was a 19th-round pick by Texas in 2019 out of Mississippi College.

Veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon, 30, was traded to the Yankees. So was 29-year-old workhorse reliever Jake Bird. Right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley, the 34-year-old sage of the bullpen, was shipped to Atlanta.

So, with slightly more than a quarter of their historically bad season remaining, what does general manager Bill Schmidt want to see from the kids?

“As I’ve said from Day 1, I want to see continued growth from these guys,” Schmidt said Friday before the Rockies hosted the Pirates at Coors Field. “We want to see them continue to get better; continued daily improvement and grind out these last two months of the season.”

The Rockies are 6-6 since the All-Star break but still need to win 14 of their final 54 games to avoid matching the 2024 White Sox’s modern record of 121 losses. Schmidt, who has faced a lot of speculation about his future with the team, said interim manager Warren Schaeffer has been doing a good job.

“Since the first of June, the last two months, we have been way more competitive,” Schmidt said. “We’ve lost some games late; we’ve won a couple late. I think ‘Schaeff’ and the crew have done a good job. We’ve seen improvement from the players on the field.”

Since June 1, Colorado was 19-31 entering Friday night, a .380 winning percentage that is an improvement over its .259 winning percentage for the entire season.

A key for the Rockies during August and September, and preparing for next season, is seeing improvement from a talented but often erratic bullpen. Collectively, Colorado relievers had a 7.46 ERA in their first 12 games since the break. Right-handers Seth Halvorsen (1-2, 4.99 ERA, 11 saves in 14 chances) and Victor Vodnik (3-3, 3.66 ERA, two saves in six chances) hold the keys to a better bullpen.

“I think they are progressing well,” Schaeffer said. “Every time out for them is a chance to gain more experience at this level and learn how to handle big situations as they go. I feel like both of them have done a really nice job.”

Several teams inquired about Halvorsen and Vodnik as Thursday’s trade deadline neared, but Schmidt said those teams couldn’t meet the Rockies’ “big ask.”

Palmquist to ‘pen. Left-hander Carson Palmquist’s days as a big-league starter are over, at least for now. The Rockies have decided to turn him into a reliever. As of Friday, he was Colorado’s only southpaw in the bullpen.

The 24-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Miami. He was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque before Friday’s game, his third stint on the active roster this season.

“After some discussion, we decided that his stuff probably played best in that role, as opposed to trying to get through a lineup three times,” Schmidt said. “His velocity has been down a little bit. We hope it will tick up when (he pitches) one time through the order instead of two or three times.”

The statistics illustrate Schmidt’s point. During his seven starts with the club over his first two stints in the majors, Palmquist was 0-4 with a 7.63 ERA, striking out 22 and walking 18. He failed to pitch more than five innings in any of his seven starts, the first starter in franchise history to not reach the sixth inning at least once in their first seven starts.

Asked if moving Palmquist to the bullpen was a long-term decision, Schmidt replied, “Yes.”

Darnell called up. Right-handed reliever Dugan Darnell, 28, who played two seasons of independent ball in 2019-20, was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday. When he pitches his first game, he’ll be the 11th Rockies player (sixth pitcher) to debut this season.

In 35 games (one start) this season for the Isotopes, Darnell was 5-2 with a 3.19 ERA, one save and 63 strikeouts (10.57 strikeouts per nine innings. Over five minor league seasons with the Rockies’ organization, he’s 21-8 with a 3.74 ERA, 24 saves and 332 strikeouts over 200 games. He was signed by Colorado as an undrafted free agent in February 2021.

Playing basketball for the Nuggets provides purpose, but harness racing remains his crush.

Last Sunday drove this point home when Jokic celebrated his horse Demon Dell’Est’s victory in the Dužijanac event in Serbia by hustling to the winner’s circle and spraying champagne. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he hugged the animal and the driver before throwing his hands skyward in jubilation.

It couldn’t have been much different than his reaction when the . He was composed while accepting the Finals MVP trophy, and sheepishly popped champagne before finally letting loose when he tossed Jamal Murray into a recovery pool.

Two things can be true. Jokic can be a three-time MVP and love horses more than hoops. The latter is a family affair. As early as the age of 12, Jokic wanted to be a trainer, and he recently said he owns around 45 horses.

Some have taken this as a sign he will leave the NBA early. My conclusion is the exact opposite. There is little money in the harness racing business. It is about passion, not profit. Basketball offers a financial avenue to keep his stable stocked.

Jokic isn’t going anywhere. And he sure as heck isn’t leaving to start a .

So, hold your horses, Nuggets’ Nation. Jokic loves the Standardbreds. It is his hobby. But he is not leaving his job as the best basketball player in the world anytime soon.

Nick Wrong: FSN’s Nick Wright made headlines for hating on Jokic for years before the reality of the center’s brilliance clobbered him over the head. Now, the world’s biggest Chiefs fan has taken aim at the Broncos. He predicted Denver will finish in last place in the AFC West with the Raiders making the playoffs. There is a better chance of Travis Kelce breaking up with Taylor Swift to date Ariana Grande. Wright is good at his job. But his bias on all things Chiefs has become a tired act.

Rock the boat: Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt broke character and made multiple deals at the trade deadline, shipping out third baseman Ryan McMahon and relievers Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley. Good plan. Wrong year. All had more value last July, leaving Colorado with one legit pitching prospect in return in Griffin Herring. They should have shipped out Seth Halvorsen — getting two arms like him — but that is a trade better left to the next GM.

Tick Tock Mike: Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin has gone 18 straight seasons without a losing record, the third longest streak behind Bill Belichick and Tom Landry. This year for Tomlin reminds me of Andy Reid’s last season in Philadelphia. It feels like he’s a Hall of Fame coach headed for an amicable divorce after Aaron Rodgers craters another team’s fortunes.

Bryce blow up: Bryce Harper telling commissioner Rob Manfred to “get the (blank) out of the clubhouse” if he was going to broach the topic of a salary cap, is not worthy of a suspension. Manfred said the two ultimately shook hands. What it did show is how far apart the sides are regarding the economics of the sport with the collective bargaining agreement expiring on Dec. 1, 2026. Harper is taking an admirable stance, but a word of advice: Baseball will never recover if another World Series is canceled.

The Rockies traded two proven veterans, third baseman Ryan McMahon and workhorse right-hander reliever Jake Bird, in exchange for four Yankees prospects.

Before Thursday’s trade deadline closed, Colorado traded Bird to the Bronx for second baseman Roc Riggio and left-hander Ben Shields. Riggio was the Yankees’ No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and Shields was their No. 29 prospect.

Last Friday, the Yankees sent pitching prospects Griffin Herring (No. 8) and Josh Grosz (No. 21) to Colorado in exchange for McMahon.

“By trading McMahon and Bird, we ended up with four of the Yankees’ top 30 prospects,” general manager Bill Schmidt said Thursday. “We acquired young guys to build on. They are, hopefully, relatively close. They’re not three or four years away.”

Riggio has been playing at Double-A Somerset and has slashed .264/.370/.567 with 27 doubles, five triples, and 18 home runs at High-A and Double-A this season. A fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft, the left-handed hitting 23-year-old should give the Rockies some needed depth in their farm system.

“Regarding Roc, I’ll just say that he’s a baseball player,” Schmidt said. “He’s a good second baseman and he’s a grinder. He’s having a good season in the Eastern League. He’s a gamer, and though he’s not big (listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds), he’s got some power.”

Schmidt said that Riggio gives the team some depth and competition at second base, where Colorado also has switch-hitting Adael Amador, who has had two stints with the big-league club.

Shields pitched at four minor league levels this season and is 1-2 with a 3.03 ERA over nine starts with 42 strikeouts vs. just 14 walks. In five starts at Double-A (23 2/3 innings), the 26-year-old was 1-2 with a 3.37 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 10 walks. The 6-foot-4 Shields is considered a diamond in the rough. He was an undrafted free agent in 2024 despite leading the Atlantic 10 Conference in strikeouts at George Mason.

The Rockies will groom him to be a starter at Double-A Hartford, though he could eventually become a reliever in the majors.

“Shields is an older guy, but he’s got a good arm, a fresh arm,” Schmidt said. “It’s a low-to-mid-90s fastball, with a slider. There’s pitchability there. We’ll start him out as a starter, but if he ends up moving to the bullpen, his fastball would probably (improve) to the mid-90s or higher.”

Bird, a 29-year-old workhorse middle reliever, has been Colorado’s best pitcher for much of the season. There was even talk that he might be a dark-horse candidate for the All-Star Game. Over 45 games (53 1/3 innings), Bird is 4-1 with a 4.73 ERA, a 1.481 WHIP, 62 strikeouts and 23 walks. Before the All-Star break, he was 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA, but a few rough innings in July inflated his ERA.

“Jake’s done a good job for us here, filling a variety of roles,” Schmidt said. “We appreciate everything he did for us.”

Trading for Bird won’t cost the Yankees much financially. He’s in his final pre-arbitration season and controllable for three years after this season. However, the McMahon trade gives the Rockies some salary relief for the next two years. The Yankees assumed the remainder of McMahon’s contract, which includes approximately $4.5 million for the rest of 2025 and $32 million over the next two seasons.

But Schmidt insisted that trading McMahon was not about jettisoning salary.

“We really like Herring,” Schmidt said. “We think he has a chance to be a starter. He’s in High-A, and next year we think he has a chance to be in Double-A. And Grosz is another good arm. We didn’t look at it like (a salary dump).”

On Wednesday, Colorado traded right-handed Tyler Kinley to the Braves for right-handed pitching prospect Austin Smith. Smith, 26, is 0-4 with a 4.31 ERA, four saves, 15 walks, and 34 strikeouts in 29 relief outings between High-A Rome and Double-A Columbus this season.

Freeman, dealt from the Guardians to the Rockies for Nolan Jones in March, came up clutch in his return to Progressive Field in Monday’s series opener. The designated hitter had two hits and three RBIs, including the game-winning single in the top of the ninth as the Rockies put up four in the frame for an 8-6 comeback win.

“They were the enemy today, and it was fun putting it to them,” Freeman told Rockies TV.

The rally, punctuated by Freeman’s first career go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning or later, erased a disastrous seventh inning in which the Rockies turned a 3-0 lead into a 5-3 deficit in a matter of 15 minutes.

“That was a big-time character win for the boys,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters. “To be down 3-0, then go down 5-3, and then keep going those last two innings with some really good at-bats, with some small-ball getting the job done — that’s a huge character win.”

Prior to the Rockies’ rise from the canvas, starter Bradley Blalock put the club in a great position with a career-best outing. The right-hander threw six shutout innings, with seven strikeouts.

And beyond Freeman, rookie Warming Bernabel and catcher Hunter Goodman each had a homer and a double. Those two hitters underscored how the Rockies’ offense, which has consistently wilted in clutch moments this season, did the opposite on Monday.

After a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay pushed the game back, Blalock took the mound and delivered. He scattered six hits and had zero walks, while the Rockies offense did its part early to give him some cushion.

“I saw him commanding the ball, and I saw his changeup being really good tonight and being a difference-maker against a left-handed (dominant) lineup,” Schaeffer said.

Freeman, who entered the game ranked fourth in the majors in average at .302 among players with at least 200 plate appearances, continued his consistent season by driving in the Rockies’ first two runs. Freeman hit a sacrifice fly off Slade Cecconi in the third, then singled home another run in the fifth for a 2-0 Rockies advantage.

Then in the sixth, Bernabel took Cecconi deep 386 feet to left field. Bernabel, who debuted on Saturday in Baltimore, became the fifth Rockies player ever with two or more homers in his first three MLB games.

But the Rockies watched that 3-0 lead go up in smoke in the seventh.

Jake Bird, one of the best relievers in baseball through June, continued his recent fall-off. Bird ballooned his July ERA to 19.91 in nine games by walking two batters, then giving up a pinch-hit homer to Josh Naylor and another single before being pulled. The Guardians plated two more runs off Vodnik before he finally got the Rockies out of the jam.

But just when it appeared that Colorado was headed toward another letdown loss, the offense roared back.

Goodman hit his 19th homer of the season in the eighth off Hunter Gaddis, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Then came the fireworks in the final frame as the Rockies batted around to win the game. Cleveland was without its closer, Emmanuel Clase, who was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave earlier in the day as part of

The red-hot Bernabel started the frame against Cade Smith with a ground-rule double to left. The next pitch, Brenton Doyle laid down a sacrifice punt that Smith threw away down the right-field line, scoring Bernabel. After Smith drilled Kyle Farmer, Freeman delivered an RBI single to right that swung the lead back to Colorado, 6-5.

Freeman was pumped up going back into the dugout after the hit, doling out aggressive high-fives and hyping up his teammates with some yelling.

“We didn’t quit, and we kept picking each other up,” Freeman said.

Freeman’s knock ended Smith’s night, but not the damage. With Tim Herrin in, the Rockies added on with Mikey Moniak’s sacrifice fly and then Goodman’s RBI double to make it 8-5. Seth Halvorsen finished the game off with the save, yielding an RBI single to Jones before striking out Brayan Rocchio to end it.

Colorado improved to 28-78 with one of its better victories in a historically futile season. The Rockies are on pace for 120 losses, one short of the modern-day loss record of 121 set by last year’s White Sox.

The Freeman-Jones Trade

Comparing how Tyler Freeman and Nolan Jones have performed this season following the one-for-one trade in March. All stats are entering the game on Monday.

Tyler Freeman: .302 average, .386 on-base percentage, .788 OPS, 1 homer, -0.5 bWAR, 61 games

Nolan Jones: .217 average, .308 on-base percentage, .615 OPS, 3 homers, -0.8 bWAR, 95 games

Keeler: The Rockies need to give the Yankees the Bird. As in right-handed reliever Jake Bird, whose torrid opening nine weeks — 1.67 ERA from opening day through June 1— have rival teams curious if he can repeat it for the stretch run. Bird’s turning 30 in December, and his sweeper-sinker-curve mix, according to StatCast, this season. If you can miss bats at Coors, you can miss bats anywhere. The Yanks allegedly like guys with effective sweepers. You’ve already scouted their farm system in getting RyMac to the Bronx, and Bird is the kind of arm that usually brings back a low-minors lottery ticket on the pitching side. Let’s get scratching.

Renck: General manager Bill Schmidt, trying pointlessly to save his job, would love to get something for Austin Gomber. But other than his decent road numbers, the left-hander projects as a long reliever for a contender. Bird represents the latest example of the Rockies lacking self-awareness. He was oven-mitts-required hot the first two months of the season, and now, well, he’s not. Opponents are hitting .424 off him in his last eight appearances. So, be bold. Make young reliever Seth Halvorsen available. He has several years of control left before free agency. Throws 100 miles per hour. And could land multiple good players. Taking calculated risks is the only pathway out of the darkness.

���������:�� Like the Halvorsen idea, but I’ll raise you one righty. Can you name the Rockies’ staff ERA leader since May 1? It’s reliever Victor Vodnik. He’s young (25), cost-controlled, and his average fastball velocity (98.6 mph) as of early Monday morning ranked among the top 3% of any MLB pitcher this season, . Despite pitching at altitude, his flyball rate and ball-in-the-air rate are a healthy chunk below the league average. Contending teams who play in small yards — the Reds immediately pop to mind — could always use fireballers who know how to keep the ball on the ground.

Renck: This suggestion hurts, but hear me out: The Rockies should move Kyle Freeland. He has roughly $21.5 million left on his contract. The Rockies saved $36.5 million in the McMahon trade. Get creative — stop laughing — and eat $12 million to land one top prospect. Quantity over quality. Freeland owns a 4.18 ERA this month and has postseason and World Baseball Classic experience. He is Mr. Denver. But he deserves a chance to compete again and could be flipped for a younger starter.

���������:�� The Rockies throw millions in salary relief to get a local hero and fan favorite off the books? We’ve seen this movie before, my friend. I love it, so it’ll never happen. It’s more likely that Schmidt and the Monforts entertain offers on outfielder Mickey Moniak, the new Nolan Jones. Although yanking The Mick’s bat from this lineup would turn a dumpster-fire offense into a volcano of pure trash in no time.

It����ap a rare run of success for the Rockies, who improved to 27-76 on the season but still need 15 wins to avoid matching the modern record of 121 losses by last year’s Chicago White Sox. Colorado rallied from a 4-0 deficit after Jordan Westburg, Tyler O’Neill, Coby Mayo and Alex Jackson hit solo homers for Baltimore in the first two innings.

Mickey Moniak hit a solo shot in the third for the Rockies and Thairo Estrada added a two-run homer in the fourth.

Colorado took the lead in the fifth when Hunter Goodman hit an RBI double and then scored on Jordan Beck’s single. Jackson Holliday tied it for the Orioles with an RBI single in the seventh off Rockies reliever Jake Bird (4-1).

Tovar answered with a one-out drive off Andrew Kittredge (1-2), and the Rockies held on. Seth Halvorsen worked a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.

Colorado and Baltimore — both in last place in their respective divisions — traded players to New York before the game. The Rockies sent infielder Ryan McMahon to the Yankees, and the Orioles dealt reliever Gregory Soto .

Key moment

O’Neill led off the eighth with a double, but Tyler Kinley retired the next three hitters — two via strikeout — to protect the one-run lead.

Key stat

Baltimore remains the only team in the major leagues without a walk-off victory in 2025.

Up next

Trevor Rogers (3-1, 1.74 ERA) starts for the Orioles on Saturday night against Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela (4-13, 6.41).

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AP MLB:

Friday, they actually did something smart. Even if it was a year too late.

RyMac won’t be back. The Rockies shipped Ryan McMahon to the Yankees, where he will love contending and staring at the short right-field fence, but not the booing if he keeps striking out at his current pace (second in MLB with 127).

First, the good news: It’s clear general manager Bill Schmidt knows how the trade deadline works. Maybe next week, the Rockies will realize they only get three strikes while hitting, not four.

Herring, a former LSU star, is a left-hander with a funky delivery and wicked slider. But his fastball tops out at 93 miles per hour, leaving him little margin for error (see Kyle Freeland). Grosz is a stock right-hander with a good changeup and a 96-mph heater. He profiles as a reliever. For this deal to be looked at as a success by anyone other than Dick Monfort’s accountant — the Rockies will save roughly $36.5 million — they need Herring to fill a spot in the rotation in 2027.

What makes anyone think this will happen, given the Rockies’ sordid history of developing prospects?

Absolutely nothing.

But they did the right thing by moving on from McMahon. It clears a spot to get a peek at Kyle Karros and perhaps increase his trade value since anyone at the hot corner is only keeping the seat warm for Ethan Holliday in 2027.

The question now is who will Monfort let Schmidt trade next (both deserve blame for getting nothing for Trevor Story, Jon Gray, Brent Suter and Daniel Bard)? Freeland could help a contender, but is not looking to leave, meaning there is little chance he will. And Austin Gomber, Jake Bird and Tyler Freeman have mild value. The Rockies would be wise to keep Mickey Moniak, making him part of the future, while listening to offers for Brenton Doyle — if he hits over the final two months — and Zac Veen this offseason.

This is how good teams operate. They see their players as commodities. They finally realized this with McMahon, but it was likely too late to help them.

Coach Prime update: Deion Sanders will hold a news conference Monday with his medical team, the first day of preseason camp. Is he capable of coaching? Does he need more time to recover from an undisclosed medical condition? His health should remain a top priority, and hopefully, Monday’s update will provide some transparency on his path forward this season. CU owes the players, coaches and fans that much.

No autographs, please: The Trail Blazers shocked scouts by drafting Yang Hansen with the 16th pick. Then he played in the summer league, earning the nickname “Chinese Jokic.” Hansen said one of his goals next season was to get Jokic’s autograph. Jokic, on a tour of China as the global ambassador for his shoe outfitter 361 degrees, responded with humor. And a scare. He said he would sign for Yang, but not if he got the best of him in the game. Jokic added he might be out of the league when 20-year-old Yang reaches his prime. Um, no. Please don’t go there. The Nuggets need Jokic for at least six more years.