After getting bludgeoned by Kyle Schwarber and shut down by ace lefty Cristopher Sanchez in a 6-0 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday, the Rockies are 16-25 with one-quarter of the season in the books.

Schwarber hit solo home runs in the first and second innings off right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, who gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings. Sanchez dominated Colorado for seven innings, giving up six hits, striking out seven, and walking none. He reduced his ERA to 2.11.

It was a step back for Colorado, but a week ago, Paul DePodesta, president of baseball operations, said, “We’re certainly encouraged by a lot of what����ap going on, but at the same time, far from satisfied.”

Here’s a look at the state of the Rockies at the quarter pole:

• On pace: The Rockies’ .390 winning percentage has them pointed toward a 63-99 record. That would be a 20-game improvement over their 119-loss season in 2025 and enable them to avoid the infamy of being the first team since the 1961-64 Washington Senators to post four consecutive 100-loss seasons.

• White Sox meter: Chicago’s Southsiders lost a major league record 121 games in 2024. At the quarter pole last year, they were a miserable 12-29, but they eventually finished with a 60-102 record. That was a 19-game improvement.

• Road conditions: Colorado was laughably bad on the road last season, going 18-63, averaging just 2.81 runs per game, and getting outscored by 213 runs. The ’26 Rockies no longer look like automatic roadkill. They are 8-14 away from Coors Field but 6-4 over their last 10 games. They are averaging 3.95 runs per game on the road.

• Rotation in motion: The ’25 Rockies finished with a starters ERA of 6.65, the worst in the majors since ERA became an official statistic in 1913. This season’s starters own a 5.27 ERA, still the worst in the majors, but an improvement. Toss out the innings thrown by “openers” and the starters’ ERA is 5.11.

• Ace in the making? Right-hander Chase Dollander, who has the pure best stuff on the staff, is exponentially better this season than last — 3.35 ERA vs. 6.98 ERA as a rookie. On Friday, he held the Phillies to two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, but walked five in the Rockies’ wild, 9-7, 11-inning victory. Dollander’s command was not sharp, but he didn’t implode as he might have last season.

“Every outing is different, for everybody,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer told MLB.com. “Today, for Chase, he had to battle command issues, but his stuff is so good that he was able to stay in it. He competed, and he kept grinding without his best command.”

Trade material: Except for Dollander, Colorado’s four other starters are all veterans in the final year of their contracts. That makes them possible trade candidates at the Aug. 3 deadline, if not before.

However, after a strong start to the season, the starters are beginning to fade. Lefty Kyle Freeland (1-4, 6.00 ERA) has a vesting option worth $17 million for 2027, but he needs to pitch 170 innings to activate that option, and it’s doubtful he will. There is a $9 million team option for right-hander Michael Lorenzen, but considering that he is 2-4 with a 6.92 ERA and a 3.56 batting average against, it’s doubtful the Rockies would pick up his option. But are either Lorenzen or Freeland tradeable?

That leaves lefty Jose Quintana (1-2, 3.90 ERA) and Sugano (3-3, 4.07 ERA) as the most attractive trade pieces. And throw in reliever Antonio Senzatela (2-0, 1.11 ERA), too, because he’s also in the final year of his contract.

Somehow, someway, the Rockies are going to have to restock their pitching cupboard for next season and beyond. It’s a predicament that DePodesta and company will have to solve.

Men of mystery: The hope was that this would be corner outfielder Jordan Beck’s breakout season, and that centerfielder Brenton Doyle and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar would bounce back. It’s early, but it’s not happening.

After going 1 for 3 on Sunday, Beck is hitting .169 with a .490 OPS. Doyle (.196, .529, 33.6% strikeout rate) is showing signs of rebounding, as is Tovar (.197, .277, 28.6%), who had two singles on Sunday. Still, the trio is underperforming. Beck and Doyle are often supplanted in the lineup by Mickey Moniak and newcomers Troy Johnston and Jake McCarthy.

He’s arbitration-eligible for one more season, leading to plenty of internet trade speculation. But if the Rockies don’t believe their outfield prospects are ready to carry the load, signing Moniak to a reasonable contract extension makes sense. He’s making $4 million this season.

First addition: Utility infielders Edouard Julien and Willi Castro, and outfielders Johnston and McCarthy have all contributed to Colorado’s improvement. But it’s rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield who looks like part of the Rockies’ foundation for the future.

He’s slashing .272/.337/.429 with five home runs and is tied with Moniak for the team lead with 21 RBIs. Among all qualified rookies, he is tied for first in games played (40), second in hits (40), fifth in RBIs (21), and eighth in batting average. He’s also a terrific fielder.

Rumfield is everything the Rockies hoped Michael Toglia would be.

Pitching probables

Monday: Off day
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-4, 6.92 ERA) at Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (5-2, 2.36 ERA), 4:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 3.90) at Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (4-1, 2.87 ERA), 4:40 p.m.
Thursday: RHP Chase Dollander (3-2, 3.35) at Pirates RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3, 4.50 ERA), 10:35 a.m.

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Philadelphia ripped the Rockies’ veteran left-hander for seven runs (six earned) on Saturday night and rolled to a 9-3 victory for its eighth win in its last 11 games.

In six career stats at Citizens Bank Park, Freeland is 0-5 (Rockies 0-6) with a 6.23 ERA.

Key moments: The Phillies shelled Freeland for five runs on six hits in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. Alec Bohn led off with a homer. Then Bryan Stott and Trea Turner singled, setting up Kyle Schwarber’s 417-foot, three-run homer to right. Schwarber’s 14th home run of the season came off his bat at 110.8 mph. A double by Adolis Garcia, followed by Edmundo Sosa’s RBI single, completed the barrage.

Bohm, who began the season in a deep slump, finished the night 3 for 4 with two home runs and four RBIs.

Who’s hot: Colorado third baseman Kyle Karros looks like he’s beginning to figure out big-league pitching. He stroked a two-run double to left in the third to extend his hitting streak to a career-high nine consecutive games. During his streak, Karros is hitting .313 (10 for 32) with three doubles and six RBIs.

Who’s not: Freeland, whose ERA rose to 6.00 after the Phillies scorched him for 10 hits in five innings. The Phillies blasted three home runs off the left-hander, two of them by Bohm.

Mickey Moniak, who started in center field Saturday night, went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts against the Phillies, the team that selected him No. 1 overall in the 2016 MLB draft.

Worth noting: Colorado is now 25-50 all-time at Citizens Bank Park. The Rockies had lost nine straight games in Philly until their dramatic win on Friday night. On Sunday, the Rockies will attempt to notch their first series win in Philly since taking three of four games in 2021.

Pitching probables

Sunday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (3-2, 3.41 ERA) at LHP Cristopher Sánchez (3-2, 2.42), 11:35 a.m.
Monday: Off day
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-4, 6.92) at Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (5-2, 2.36), 4:40 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

The Rockies blew leads of 6-0 and 7-2, but rallied to beat the Phillies 9-7 in 11 innings on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. The big hits came from pinch-hitter Troy Johnston, who hit a double to right to score ghost runner Willi Castro, and Jake McCarthy, who drove in Johnston with a single to center.

Right-handed reliever Juan Mejia gave up an infield single to Justin Crawford in the bottom of the frame, but he handled the top of the Phillies’ order. Mejia got Trea Turner to fly out to right, struck out dangerous slugger Kyle Schwarber, and induced Bryce Harper to ground out to second baseman Edouard Julien to secure his second save of the season.

Key moments: Colorado scored five runs on five hits in the fourth. The first seven hitters reached base, chasing left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo from the game. Hunter Goodman’s two-run home run and third baseman Kyle Karros’ two-run double were the key hits of the inning.

The Phillies trailed 7-2 after Rockies’ right fielder Tyler Freeman hit a solo blast in the seventh inning, but the Phillies rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Philly’s big hits were a two-run double by Bryson Stott and a two-run homer off, both off Rockies right-hander Jimmy Herget.

Who’s hot: Goodman went 4 for 5 and hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Luzardo. It was Goodman’s 10th home run.

Second baseman Willi Castro has shaken off a slow start, increasing his average to .257. He had a single and a stolen base in the second, and put down a perfect bunt single in the fourth.

McCarthy is slashing .367/.434/.671 over his last 21 games since April 5. He’s reached base safely in 19 of his 20 games with five doubles, two triples, and two home runs.

Who’s not: Jordan Beck, who started in left field and led off, went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts. He drew a walk to open the game and came around to score. But Beck is hitting just .164 with a .489 OPS.

Worth noting: Manager Warren Schaeffer chose not to use an opener for right-hander Chase Dollander, who pitched an uneven but effective 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander gave up two runs on just three hits — including a leadoff home run in the sixth by Schwarber — and struck out five, but also walked five. Dollander improved to 4-2 and trimmed his ERA to 3.35.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-3, 5.04 ERA) at Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (2-3, 5.06), 4:05 p.m.
Sunday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (3-2, 3.41) at Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (3-2, 2.42), 4:05 p.m.
Monday: Off day.

Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano pitched five innings of no-hit ball on Monday afternoon at Coors Field, but the Mets solved him in the sixth inning and came away with a 4-2 victory.

The Rockies were in a great place when they swept the Mets in three games in Queens late last month, but now they are in a hard place after losing five straight games, including four in a row at home.

The Rockies have been outscored 32-15 on their current homestand, and with a 14-22 record, they are eight games below .500 for the first time this season.

On Monday, the Rockies’ fate changed as quickly as Colorado’s fickle May weather. Sugano was in nearly total control for the first five innings. He did issue a leadoff walk to Carson Benge in the third, but Benge was quickly erased when Francisco Alvarez grounded into a double play.

“I thought ‘Tomo’ was fantastic today,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He was super efficient, and it’s what he’s been doing all year.”

But New York solved Sugano in a four-run sixth inning that decided the ballgame. Benge led off with a no-doubt, 436-foot homer to right to make it 1-0. Back-to-back doubles by Alvarez and Luis Torrens made it 2-0. Juan Soto coaxed a walk out of Sugano, and Mark Vientos ripped a two-run single off Jaden Hill to make it 4-0.

“In the sixth inning, I just left up a couple of pitches, and I missed locations,” Sugano said, using Yuto Sakurai as his interpreter. “Other than that, I pitched pretty good.”

Sugano is now 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA. His performance on Monday was Colorado’s longest no-hit bid at Coors Field since Kyle Freeland’s 5 1/3 no-hit innings on June 23, 2024, vs. Washington.

Colorado actually out-hit the Mets, 5-4, but didn’t score a run until they finally busted through against lefty David Peterson, making his third relief appearance of the season. The Denver native and Regis Jesuit High School graduate dominated Colorado for his first three innings and struck out five of six hitters he faced in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Rockies finally got on the scoreboard with two runs in the seventh, combining Willi Castro’s two-out single, an RBI triple into the right-field corner by Jordan Beck, and a run-scoring single by Kyle Karros.

Pitching probables

Tuesday: Mets RHP Freddy Peralta (1-3, 3.52 ERA) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 6.09), 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Mets RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 4.26) at Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 4.07), 1:10 p.m.
Thursday: Off day

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.01 FM

“We’re certainly encouraged by a lot of what’s going on, but at the same time, far from satisfied,” the president of baseball operations said Sunday morning during a Q&A with the media. “I think there are a lot of things we know we can do better, and that we’re going to work to continue to get better. But, but all in all, I think sort of a positive first month.”

DePodesta, hired last November in the wake of Colorado’s 119-loss season, faced a major reconstruction project, not just with the roster but with the front office and coaching staff.

After getting swept by the Braves at Coors Field over the weekend, the Rockies were 14-21 entering Monday’s game against the Mets. Not great, certainly, but significantly better than last season when they were 6-29 after 35 games.

The following are highlights from DePodesta’s session with the Rockies media:

Assessment of the three veteran free-agent pitchers

Colorado signed right-handers Tomoyuki Sugano and Michael Lorenzen, and lefty Jose Quintana for a combined $18.85 million to stabilize a rotation that posted a 6.65 ERA last season, the worst since ERA became an official statistic in 1913. Entering Monday’s game, Colorado starters had a 4.81 ERA, though over the last 15 games, it was 3.97.

“I think by and large, probably the most consistent thing over the first month has been our pitching,” DePodesta said. “I mean, our pitching is giving us a chance to win virtually every night. Every team will have a bad start here and there, but for the most part, they’re giving us a chance to win. And I think those three guys have been central to that.”

Using an ‘opener’ in the first inning ahead of Dollander

Right-hander Chase Dollander is off to an excellent start, despite his hiccup on Saturday night in Colorado’s 9-1 loss to Atlanta. After eight games, including one official start, Dollander is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He’s struck out 42, walked just 12, and has a 1.15 WHIP.

“It’s actually about trying to get him as much length as possible in a game,” DePodesta said. “So it’s not so much about having him avoid certain hitters, because he’s been pretty good against the top of the lineup. We think he certainly has stuff that will play the third time through a lineup.

“But I think at least initially, this was about trying to, sort of, lengthen him out as much as we possibly could.”

Left-hander Brennan Bernardino started ahead of Dollander in Saturday’s game and gave up hits to the first three Atlanta batters, including Drake Baldwin’s two-run homer. It’s an extremely small sample size, but openers have a combined 10.80 ERA (5.0 innings pitched, six earned runs), and Colorado’s record when they used an opener is 1-5.

Faith in slumping outfielders Beck and Doyle

Jordan Beck entered Monday’s game hitting .167 with a .469 OPS and one home run. Brenton Doyle was hitting .213 with a .567 OPS and one homer.

“First of all, we don’t want to be reactionary,” DePodesta said. “We also don’t want our players thinking that, ‘Boy, if they 0 for 4 tonight, they’re not in the lineup tomorrow.’ Or worse, they’re going to Triple-A tomorrow, right? Or if they give up a run, or something like that. We believe in these guys. We also believe in a lot of the guys we have in Triple-A right now, but we want to give them ample opportunity to play.”

The chance of calling up prospects Condon and Carrigg 

Cole Carrigg, who plays both infield and outfield, was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week on Monday after going 9 for 13 with two doubles, one triple, one homer, and seven RBIs over three games. He’s riding a PCL-best 13-game hitting streak, during which he slashed .521/.574/.729 with three doubles, two triples, one home run, 14 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.

After a monster start, Charlie Condon has cooled off. He hit four home runs in his first 10 games, but none since. Through April 17, he posted a line of .339/.456/.589, but now he’s slashing .250/.403/.406.

“Something we talked about all winter was sort of creating enough competition and depth with our big-league roster that we never want to call a player up just because we didn’t have anybody else,” DePodesta said. “We want to call players up when they are banging down the door, where we have to make room for them because they’re just playing so well, and they have the underlying foundation in place to be successful up here. Not just to survive, but to be successful.”

Do the Rockies have enough power in the lineup?

Led by red-hot Mickey Moniak’s 11 home runs to go with his .327 average, and catcher Hunter Goodman’s nine homers, the Rockies had hit 35 homers entering Monday’s play, tied with the Tigers and Phillies for 17th-most in the majors.

Asked if the Rockies have enough power in-house now, or need to develop sluggers over the next few seasons, DePodesta answered, “I think probably a combination of two. I think we’ll hit for more power as the year goes on. You look at some of our guys right now, who traditionally hit 15- 20-plus homers, and they have one right now.

“So I’m confident those guys will end up hitting for more power as the year goes on. At the same time, Mickey and ‘Goody’ both have (hit homers). And Mickey missed the first week (with a finger), so I think, as a team, we feel like we have enough.”

The Rockies‘ outfielder launched two more home runs on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, giving him 11 in Colorado’s first 35 games and extending his hitting streak to 16 games.

Still, a formula for consistent success continues to elude the reimagined Rockies. Their 11-6 loss to the Braves on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field provided the latest example. And gave the Braves a three-game sweep.

Colorado got plenty of hits (11), including a solo blast by rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield (3 for 5) and a triple by Jake McCarthy to complement Moniak’s big day.

Don’t mess with Walt Weiss: Beloved former Rockies player, manager has Braves playing inspired baseball

Moniak reached 11 home runs in his first 27 games played, the fastest Rockie to hit 11 homers since Trevor Story launched 11 in his first 27 games of his 2016 rookie season. Moniak is the first major league player to record four multi-homer games in a team’s first 35 games since Toronto’s Carlos Delgado in 2001.

"It's unbelievable watching that guy every single day and seeing what he does," Rumfield said. "It's impressive. You think he's going to hit a home run and -- boom! -- he does it.

"I see a complete baseball player, I see a cerebral player; a guy who knows what he's going to do when he gets in the box. He looks calm -- all the time. That's something I try to take in as a younger player."

Moniak, who's slashing .377/.441/.770 (1.211 OPS) with six doubles, six home runs, and 16 RBIs during his hitting streak, said he's in a comfortable place at the plate.

"I just think I've found a good routine on a daily basis," Moniak said. "It gives me the confidence to be able to go into the game, and instead of worrying about my swing or anything like that, I just focus on what the pitcher is going to do and try to execute a game plan."

But while Moniak continued to play like a player destined for the Midsummer Classic on July 14 in Philadelphia, Colorado's missing ingredient on Sunday was solid pitching.

Atlanta tagged starter Kyle Freeland for six runs on eight hits over his 4 1/3 innings. Right-handed reliever Antonio Senzatala, nearly untouchable this season, gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. And multipurpose right-hander Jimmy Herget got rocked for three runs on three hits and a walk in the ninth inning.

And so the Braves improved to 25-10 under first-year manager Walt Weiss for the best record in baseball. The Rockies lost their fourth straight, and the boost from their recent 4-2 road trip is quickly disappearing in their rearview mirror.

Two innings illustrated Freeland's off-kilter day.

In the second, light-hitting Johan Heim hit a two-out, two-run homer. It was Heim's first home run of the season. Jorge Mateo immediately followed with a solo blast that hugged the left-field line. Entering Sunday, Freeland had served up only two homers across four starts.

In the fifth, Freeland uncharacteristically walked three, including walking Eli White with the bases full to force in a run. Freeland had walked only five batters in his first four starts.

However, manager Warren Schaeffer lauded the Braves' powerful, deep lineup and said  Freeland pitched a decent game.

"I wouldn't characterize his entire outing as 'uncharacteristic,' " Schaeffer said. "The majority of the time, he was really good. He attacked the strike zone. Good pitch mix. ... In the fifth inning, I just thought he lost some battles there with the walks."

Freeland gave himself a mixed review.

"In that second inning, I had a couple of mistake pitches that got punished, but then I was able to kind of keep them at bay until the fifth when walks started piling up," he said. "I had guys in advantage counts and couldn't put them away. I wasn't executing very well."

Freeland, whose ERA sits at 5.04, added, "I thought I battled really well throughout the entire game, but there in the fifth was uncharacteristic of me, walking those guys. In situations like that, with runners on and less than two outs, you have to make sure you are staying on the attack. And I was running out of gas there in the fifth, and I wasn't able to execute and put pitches where I wanted them to be."

The Rockies open a three-game series vs. the Mets on Monday afternoon at Coors Field. The game was originally scheduled for 6:40 p.m. but was moved up three hours due to anticipated inclement weather.

Pitching probables

Monday: Mets TBA at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 2.84 ERA), 3:40 p.m.
Tuesday: Mets RHP Freddy Peralta (1-3, 3.52) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 6.09), 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Mets RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 4.26) at Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 4.07), 1:10 p.m.
Thursday: Off day

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

But the Rockies torched the Reds for 15 hits — including two home runs by Hunter Goodman — as they cruised to a 13-2 victory at Great American Ball Park.

Toss in 5 1/3 shutout innings by right-hander Tomoyuki Sagano, and it was close to a perfect roadie for the Rockies. Cincy spoiled the shutout in the ninth off reliever Jimmy Herget when Will Benson tagged him for a two-run homer.

Colorado improved to 4-1 on its six-game road trip and is just three games under .500 (14-17).

Key moments: Colorado made a statement in the first inning, with both the bat and glove. Brenton Doyle hit a one-out double, and Goodman and Willi Castro drew two-out walks. Up stepped catcher Brett Sullivan, who ripped a three-run triple to right off lefty Brandon Williamson’s 1-1 sinker.

In the bottom of the frame, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar made a scrambling, diving stop on Sal Stewart’s grounder behind second base, then Tovar nailed Matt McClain at the plate for the final out of the inning. Instead of getting banged up in the first inning, Sugano got a fresh slate and shut down the Reds for the rest of his outing.

Who’s hot: Goodman hit 3 for 4 with a walk and now leads the team with nine home runs. His average has climbed to .269. It marked the first time in his career that Goodman hit two home runs as a designated hitter. Sullivan hit 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs and is batting .289.

Sugano has been everything the Rockies hoped when they signed him to a one-year, $5.1 million contract. The 36-year-old right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA after allowing just four hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.

Who’s not: Jordan Beck, who got the start in left field and hit leadoff. He was 0 for 6 with two strikeouts and grounded into an inning-ending double play in the second. Beck’s average is down to .153 with a .440 OPS.

Tovar was golden with his glove, but his batting slump is the worst of his career. After a 1-for-4 game (he had a leadoff walk in the second inning and a single off Trevino’s knuckleball in the ninth), Tovar is batting .195. Over his last 10 games, the shortstop has gone 3-for-33 (.090) with one walk and 12 strikeouts.

Worth noting: Last season, the Rockies did not win their 14th game until June 15 at Washington, improving to 14-57.

Mickey Moniak clubbed a double off Trevino in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

Pitching probables

Thursday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 5.97 ERA) at LHP Andrew Abbott (0-2, 6.59), 10:40 a.m.
Friday: Braves RHP Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.62) at Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 4.91), 6:40 p.m.
Saturday: Braves LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 2.31) at Rockies TBD, 6:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM & 94.1 FM

Fresh off a three-game sweep against the Mets in New York, the Rockies were looking to stay hot. Instead, defensive miscues early and a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position cost them in a 7-2 loss.

The Reds, winners of 10 of their last 13 games, improved to 19-10. The Rockies slipped to 13-17.

Key moments: Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland, coming off the injured list, had a rough first inning, but it wasn’t all of his own making. He issued a leadoff walk to Dane Myers, but had him picked off, only to see first baseman Troy Johnston drop the ball. Then Elly De La Cruz dumped an RBI bloop single behind Johnston into shallow right field. Next came Freeland’s one big mistake. He left a pitch middle-up to Spencer Steer, who smashed it for a two-run homer. At that point, Steer was 3 for 8, with three homers off Freeland (five innings, four runs on five hits, one walk, four strikeouts).

Colorado hung around until the eighth when Cincinnati ripped reliever Tanner Gordon for three runs on five hits, including a two-run homer by Cruz.

Who’s hot: Colorado’s Edouard Julien continued to rake from the leadoff spot, going 3 for 4 with a walk and a solo home run in the second. Julien is hitting .308 and has driven in 12 runs. Rookie TJ Rumfield, who was the designated hitter on Tuesday, hit 2 for 4 with a double and a single. He’s hitting .260.

Who’s not: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar remains stuck in the worst slump of his career. Tovar’s 0-for-4 night included a strikeout with two runners on in the eighth. Tovar’s average is down to .193. He is batting .068 (2-for-29) over his last nine games.

Worth noting: Mickey Moniak, who started in center field, went 1 for 5 and struck out twice, but he singled in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

Injury update: Right-handed starter Ryan Feltner played catch Tuesday and began working his way back to the rotation. The hope is that he won’t have to go to the minors on a rehab assignment. Feltner left his last start against the Padres at Coors Field last Thursday with what was diagnosed as right ulnar nerve inflammation. He’s eligible to come off the IL on May 9.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA) at Reds LHP Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40), 4:40 p.m.
Thursday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 5.97) at Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (0-2, 6.59), 10:40 a.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM

“The ultimate goal is to bring consistent winning seasons to this organization,” Schaeffer said on the day he slipped off the interim tag and was officially named Rockies manager. “You’re going to see winning baseball in Denver a lot sooner than you think.”

Raise your hand if you were skeptical.

I don’t blame you. Three consecutive 100-loss seasons, topped off by last year’s 119-loss disaster, tend to squeeze the optimism out of even the most positive fans. But Scheaffer might be on to something.

Entering Sunday’s doubleheader vs. the Mets (Saturday’s game at Citi Field was rained out), the Rockies are 11-16. They have been solid at home (7-6), though predictably wobbly on the road (4-10). They are on pace to finish 66-96, which would be a 23-game improvement from last season. I picked the Rockies to lose 102 games, so they are exceeding my expectations — at least in the early going.

Some very early observations, questions, and predictions with 16.6% of the season in the books:

The bullpen has been excellent: Even with the Padres’ ninth-inning rally vs. Victor Vodnik last Thursday, the relievers have been the best thing about the Rockies this season. Colorado’s 3.77 ERA ranks 12th in the majors, and considering the Coors Field factor, that’s pretty good. Former starter Antonio Senzatela looks reborn. He’s given up two runs over 18 innings (0.50 ERA) with 18 strikeouts vs. four walks.

Is the bullpen’s excellence sustainable? History tells us no. The wear and tear of the season usually causes Rockies relievers to implode in August and September. Schaeffer and the front office are well aware of that history, which is a reason why we’re seeing Colorado use so many “bulk relievers.” Pitchers like Jimmy Herget, Chase Dollander and Senzatela have been purposely scheduled for multiple innings, with the hope that late-game relievers won’t be toast in August. We’ll see if it works.

Can Dollander become a true ace? Yes, he can. It’s not just that his stats — 2.88 ERA, .198 batting average against, 32 strikeouts vs. seven walks — but his demeanor, self-confidence, and easy power that give him a chance to be great. Of course, a true ace doesn’t have a reliever opening games for him, but I imagine that set up is going to change sooner rather than later.

Who’s a possible All-Star? Right now, the Rockies have two candidates — catcher Hunter Goodman (.264 average, .870 OPS, six homers) and outfielder Mickey Moniak (.315, 1.050, eight). But there are two caveats here. First, Goodman’s 37.3% strikeout rate is much too high. Second, Moniak has had hot streaks before. Can he be productive for a full season?

But wouldn’t it be cool if Moniak gets to play in the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia? Remember, the Phillies selected him with the first overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Ezequiel Tovar will play better: The shortstop has not played well thus far, at least not by his standards. His .967 fielding percentage ranks 10th in the majors, his 3.70 range factor is ninth, and his 0.0 DWAR ranks 23rd. His numbers will improve because he’s a talented, athletic shortstop who could still end up in the Gold Glove conversation.

However, Tovar looks lost at the plate right now, as evidenced by his .216/.255/.330 slash line that includes just one home run.  His strikeout rate is 28.4%, his walk rate is just 2.9%, and his chase rate is a very hight 48.5%. Those are reasons why he’s hitting low in Schaeffer’s lineup.

When Tovar hit .269 with 26 homers and 45 doubles in 2024, I thought he was just getting warmed up. It’s early, but he needs to become a more disciplined hitter to become the star so many envisioned.

What’s up with Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck? There have been flashes that they could be pillars of the Rockies’ outfield for years to come. That’s not happening right now.

Beck isn’t getting on base consistently (.204 on-base percentage), so he’s not getting consistent playing time, which, in turn, is part of the reason why he’s hitting just .160 with one home run. He’s in no-man’s land right now. He might be a slow starter, but he’s going to need to earn more at-bats to climb out of his funk. That’s not easy in the big leagues.

Doyle is beginning to hit the ball hard again, and the Rockies need his defense in center field. But he’s striking out 35% of the time, and his track record shows he’s a streak hitter. Right now, he’s slashing .219/.288/.288 with one home run and a .143 average with runners in scoring position. The jury is still out on his future.

TJ Rumfield is a real find: The rookie first baseman is everything that former first baseman Michael Toglia was not. In Friday night’s win over the Mets, he put together a seven-pitch at-bat against Freddie Peralta with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Rumfield didn’t get a hit, but he grounded out and scored a run. He takes unselfish at-bats, which is not always easy for a rookie. He’s hitting a solid .292 (7 for 24) with runners in scoring position.

Major decisions loom for the front office: Paul DePodesta, president of baseball operations, has been progressive since taking over the front office — pitch-calling “suggestions” from the dugout, a lot of new people on staff, and beefing up the analytics department.

Former general manager Bill Schmidt was criticized for holding on to players and getting nothing in return. So I’ll be curious to see how many veteran starters DePodesta will put on the market as the Aug. 3 trade deadline comes into view. Right-handers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano, and lefty Jose Quintana, are all pitching on one-year deals. Lorenzen has a $9 million club option for 2027, but I doubt the Rockies will pick it up. Senzatela is also in the final year of his contract.

The wild-card here is lefty Kyle Freeland, who’s in his 10th year with the Rockies. He’s pitched terrifically so far, but his stint on the injured list means his player option likely won’t kick in. He needs to pitch 170 innings for his $17,000 option to vest for 2027.

Their 8-3 victory over the Padres on Wednesday night at Coors Field offered the latest proof.

One night after losing a 1-0 game at home for the first time since Aug. 1, 2006, the Rockies rebounded with an impressive performance and snapped their seven-game losing streak to San Diego. Behind a strong start from Tomoyuki Sugano and a huge night at the plate from Hunter Goodman, Colorado improved to 10-15, including a 7-5 record at Coors.

Great shakes? No, but compared to a year ago, it’s baseball nirvana.

“There is a lot of confidence in this group and we have shown that we can do good things,” said Goodman, who hit 3 for 4 with a solo home run and two doubles. “You are not going to keep us down to three hits. You’re not going to do that a lot, and I think we have confidence as a group that we are going to bounce back, especially in this ballpark.”

After the first 25 games of last season’s 119-loss debacle, the Rockies were 4-21 and had already suffered a six-game losing streak and an eight-game losing streak, and they were three games deep into another eight-game skid.  In 2025, the Rockies did not win their 10th game until June 2, to improve to 10-50.

Sugano, who pitched poorly in Colorado’s 7-1 home loss to the Dodgers last Friday, handled the Padres for 5 2/3 innings. The veteran right-hander allowed one run on five hits, struck out four and walked one. He was never in serious trouble, though he departed the game with Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts on base after back-to-back, two-out singles. But reliever Jaden Hill cleaned up the mess by getting Gavin Sheets to ground out to second.

“Sugano has been fantastic,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He’s locating the heater, and tonight the slider was really good, and the sweeper was good. He was just competing and attacking the zone. He’s a professional, and you can tell that when he goes out there.

“I think every time out there is probably a different pitch working for him. Tonight it was the sweeper and the slider.”

Sugano, who improved to 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA  through his five starts with Colorado, said he’s enjoying his time in Colorado.

“It’s a new team, new coaching staff, new environment, and good teammates,” he said through his interpreter, Yuto Sakurai. “Overall, it’s a very good environment for me so far.”

Last season, the Rockies’ offense often got stuck in a rut and stayed there, spinning its wheels. In their 1-0 loss on Tuesday night, the Rockies managed just three hits. But they pounded out 15 hits on Wednesday, and scored five of their eight runs with two outs.

Goodman launched a 427-foot leadoff home run in the eighth, his sixth homer of the season, tying Mickey Moniak for the team lead.

Moniak continues to rake. He hit two doubles and drove in a run, and has hit safely in his last seven games, slashing .346/.393/.654 during the streak. Rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield drove in Goodman with an RBI single in the fourth and scored Moniak with a double in the sixth. Rumfield and Moniak are tied for the team lead with 13 RBIs.

San Diego veteran right-hander Walker Buehler dominated the Rockies on April 10 at Petco Park, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, walking none, and striking out four. Wednesday night, he got the hook after just 2 2/3 innings. The Rockies wrecked Buehler for four runs on eight hits, and he walked three.

The differing results were not solely due to different ballparks. The Rockies attacked Buehler differently this time around.

“It’s another step forward for us,” Schaeffer said. “Just the fact that we forced him to throw so many pitches within the first three innings (82), just tells me we are spitting on the balls.

“It’s so simple. I don’t want to make too much out of it, but it’s baseball. It’s spitting on the balls and offering at pitches in the zone. That’s what we did tonight. It was good and we have to do it again tomorrow.”

Colorado will attempt to win its third series of the season on Thursday afternoon vs. the Padres. Last season, Colorado didn’t win its third series until July 18-20, when it took two of three games from Minnesota at Coors.

Pitching probables

Thursday: Padres RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 14.73 ERA) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-1, 6.00), 1:10 p.m.

Friday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 7.48) at Mets RHP Freddy Peralta (1-2, 4.05), 5:10 p.m.

Saturday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23) at Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83), 2:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

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