Sunday afternoon, the Rockies’ veteran left-hander stood on the mound at Coors Field and tipped his cap to the fans serenading him with cheers and applause. Freeland, 33, had just pitched 1,313 1/3 major league innings, all in a Rockies uniform, surpassing Aaron Cook (1,312 1/3) for the franchise record.

“At that moment, when they put it up on the scoreboard, I actually thought of Buddy Black,” Freeland said, referring to the former Rockies manager who guided Freeland through the first eight-plus seasons of his career. “Because he was the one who would tell me, ‘Hey, make sure you tip your cap to the crowd. … So I thought of him at that moment, and I found my family and tipped my cap to them as well.”

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The moment came in the fifth inning when Freeland got Milwaukee third baseman Luis Rengifo to fly out to deep center field. It was the highlight of another ugly day for the Rockies, who lost 12-4 as the Brewers polished off a three-game sweep.

Colorado, 24-42 and on pace to lose 103 games, fell 18 games below .500 for the first time this season. The Rockies, blasted for 17 hits, including 10 extra-base hits, have lost 15 of their last 21 games at home.

Freeland, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and Colorado's first-round pick in 2014 out of Evansville (eighth overall), watched Cook while growing up. Cook pitched for the Rockies from 2002-11.

"To be able to be the all-time leader in innings pitched, as a Rockie, from Denver, and to be able to surpass him for this record ... is pretty incredible," Freeland said.

Manager Warren Schaeffer made it clear how much he admires Freeland.

"It was very special," he said. "What a long career he's had. To set a franchise record like that, its takes a lot of durability, a lot of resilience, and a lot of success.

"Hats off to Kyle Freeland. That's a huge milestone and a special moment."

But it's been a rough season for Freeland, who had a bit of a bounce-back game Sunday, pitching five-plus innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking to and striking out 1. He trimmed his ERA from 8.06 to 7.81, but knows he needs to pitch better.

"I was in a better spot (today), with everything when it comes to pitching and mechanics and stuff," he said. "I definitely feel like I'm moving forward, getting better through bullpens and outings, and everything like that.

"It's steps forward right now. Obviously, there are multiple things in this outing that need to be cleaned up. From my standpoint, they aren't up to standard for me, but moving forward, I'm trying to get better and trying to do everything I can to leave the team in a place to win a ball game."

Freeland departed with no outs in the sixth after giving up a leadoff single to William Contreras and an RBI triple to Andrew Vaughn. The Brewers proceeded to blow up the game against reliever Jaden Hill, who served up a two-run homer to Gary Sanchez and ended up giving up five runs on four hits and two walks in one-third of an inning.

"Jaden just had a hard time landing his off-speed (pitches) for strikes today," Schaeffer said. "The command just wasn't there. They took advantage of it and hit his heater."

Colorado's other highlight of the day was Hunter Goodman's solo home run to center in the ninth. He has 17 home runs, tying his own record for the most home runs by a Rockies catcher before the All-Star Game. Goodman had 17 homers before the All-Star break last season.

Pitching probables

Monday: Off day
Tuesday: Cubs TBD at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4, 3.98), 6:40 p.m.
Wednesday: Cubs TBD at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 8.01), 6:40 p.m.
Thursday: Cubs TBD at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-1, 4.22), 1:10 p.m.

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

In his first three years in the majors — 237 games — the Rockies slugger stole a whopping three bases. In his time playing Triple-A minor league ball, he stole one. Two years of Double-A? One. High-A? One.

There was nothing to see here. Nobody was lamenting his lack of audacity on the base paths. Catchers can’t run, after all.

But Goodman can, he remembered recently. An All-Star in 2025 for his bat, he made noise with his legs last week, suddenly swiping two bags in as many games Wednesday and Friday. Somehow, that was the statistic that stuck out the most from a week in which he also clubbed three homers and drove in six runs. It was all part of a Rockies initiative that dates back to spring training — a common edict for losing teams looking for an edge.

“I move pretty well for a catcher, and one of the big things we’re trying to change is kind of creating some chaos on the base paths,” Goodman told The Denver Post before a 7-1 loss to the Brewers on Saturday. “Running a little better. Taking extra bases when we have the chance. So I think I run pretty well, and I think there’s opportunities out there for me to gain an extra base for the team. … I’m not gonna steal a base every game, but when there’s the opportunity, when a pitcher’s slow or when they’re not really paying attention, I feel like I have the ability to at least take advantage of that.”

Goodman aims to be a cunning thief. His sprint speed “could be better, could be worse,” he’ll readily admit. But he studies enough film of opposing pitchers — and inherently understands their cadences because of his own position — to feel confident picking his spots.

“I think it’s just watching video, seeing which guys are, I guess ‘gettable,’ you could say, for me and my speed,” the 26-year-old said. “I think it’s different for each guy, which guys you can swipe a bag on and which guys you kind of just stay at first and get a good secondary (lead). So I’m doing a little better job seeing that and realizing I don’t have to just stand at first on this guy.”

His latest heist was especially daring, at challenge used to one of the best catchers in the game at eliminating runners. The throw from Milwaukee’s William Contreras beat Goodman, but he evaded the tag and made it in safely with a smooth swim move.

“That the only chance I had,” Goodman said, “so I figured I’d just try it.”

It was his fifth stolen base in 58 games this season, one away from tripling the career total he brought into 2026.

It’ll never be his defining skill, but the Rockies want him to keep up the aggressive mindset. He’s realizing he can tap into a forgotten knack for running the bases freely that he possessed back in college, when he amassed 11 steals at Memphis in 2019 and nine more in 2021. He got away from that after entering the pros.

“Probably just me not focusing on it a ton and not really feeling comfortable doing it,” Goodman said. “But the more you do it, the more you get comfortable with it, and the better you get at it.

“I stole a decent amount in college. … So I think it’s great. I think getting to second is a big deal, especially in a ballpark like (Coors Field) where there are a lot of hits out there — getting to second base, giving that next guy an opportunity to get a single and drive in a run, versus having to put one in the gap.”

Goodman could be bound for a second consecutive All-Star Game next month. He ranked fourth in the National League with 16 home runs as of Saturday, on pace for another 30-homer season. He forced extra innings with a solid piece of situational hitting Friday, a ninth-inning RBI sacrifice fly. He’s 13th in the NL in slugging (.514) despite a downtick in average and on-base percentage from last year.

To some extent, that’s the cost of being one of the most aggressive swingers in Colorado’s lineup. He’s working on maintaining control of that aggression, on harnessing it for good.

Meanwhile, he’s also trying to apply the same trait on the base paths.

“We want that to be a big part of our identity,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “… Our three catchers can all run, which is abnormal. And we need to take advantage of that. Goody’s been doing a really good job of doing that.”

To bunt or not to bunt

Colorado’s home stand began with a thriller Friday night that tested Schaeffer’s philosophy in a situation that will come up often in the future. In the ninth and 10th innings of an eventual 9-7 loss, the Rockies had runners at first and second base with nobody out and a two-run deficit. Both times, they elected not to try moving the runners over with a bunt.

“Every situation is different,” Schaeffer said Saturday. “My natural inclination as a manager always — almost always — is to bunt.”

But these were not “natural” scenarios, from Schaeffer’s perspective. Down 5-3 in the ninth, he chose to swing away because the batter was Jake McCarthy — “arguably our hottest hitter right now,” the manager said. “There’s a lot of grass out there in the outfield. And it’s a great chance to score multiple runs with him up. And you hate to bunt with your best hitter at the moment.”

In the 10th, Colorado cut a 9-5 deficit in half before Milwaukee could record an out. The tying runners were on base. The batter was Brett Sullivan this time.

“An obvious candidate to bunt, no doubt about it,” Schaeffer acknowledged in hindsight. “But the situation for me dictated, (Brewers reliever Aaron) Ashby was having a very, very difficult time throwing strikes. And to give up an out (by bunting) when that’s occurring, I’m not crazy about it. Especially when you have a chance to win the game. If you bunt there, you’re basically saying, ‘We’re trying to tie the game here.’ I thought it was a great opportunity for us to try to win the game. Sully’s been good against left-handed pitching as well.”

So the Rockies took their chances. Sullivan grounded into a double play. Their rally stalled out.

“Obviously, the worst thing possible happened,” Schaeffer said. “Sometimes that happens. But the process of thinking about it was correct, I think.”

In the sixth, Colorado’s right fielder got burned by one.

Tyler Freeman left Saturday’s game after he was hit in the head by a pitch from the 24-year-old Brewers ace Misiorowski.

Freeman, 27, crumpled to the ground after the pitch plunked his helmet, eliciting a gasp from the announced attendance of 30,320 at Coors Field. Rockies trainers tended to him, and he was eventually able to walk off the field after being helped to his feet.

“He took it about as good as I think anybody can take 101 (miles per hour) off the helmet,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Obviously, it didn’t feel good, but he seems fine.”

Freeman is hitting .273 this season with a .725 OPS. There was no mention of a possible concussion by Schaeffer, who seemed unconcerned about Freeman’s availability.

“You just hate to see it,” Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros said. “I feel horrible for ‘Free,’ and then I also feel horrible for ‘Miz.’ I saw that he was beating himself up over that. But it’s baseball, at the end of the day. You hate to see it, but it’s part of it.”

Misiorowski, who’s emerged as a National League Cy Young award candidate, was visibly upset after the pitch. He put his hands on his knees and turned away from the plate to collect himself as Freeman was examined. Then he proceeded to steer himself out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam. Troy Johnston flew out to shallow left field. Ezequiel Tovar followed with a groundout to end the threat. The Brewers escaped with a 2-1 lead intact.

They scored three insurance runs the next inning to secure an eventual 7-1 win.

“Usually if you’re gonna get an opportunity (to beat) a guy like that, a front line guy, it’s gonna be, you’re usually gonna get one shot at it. Have to cash in,” Schaeffer said. “I mean, we had him right where he wanted him. … Right where we want to be. Just didn’t cash in tonight.”

Misiorowski gave up only one unearned run, which Colorado scored in the fifth after a two-base throwing error by Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz. Misiorowski struck out eight and allowed four hits, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in 13 starts.

“We were trying to attack the heater,” Schaeffer said. “… You know he’s gonna throw a bunch of them. And you don’t wait a guy like that out. You attack.”

The 6-foot-7 right-hander was backed up by five solo home runs. Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang hit two of them, including one to open the scoring off Zach Agnos. William Contreras, David Hamilton and Jake Bauers contributed the others. Colorado (24-41) used five pitchers, starting with three innings and two earned runs from Zach Agnos. The 25-year-old was coming off consecutive outings with seven runs surrendered.

Blas Castaño was a bright spot for the Rockies. He relieved Agnos with 2 1/3 scoreless frames, one deadly pick-off move to erase a leadoff walk and several animated celebrations. It was his second straight two-inning appearance without allowing a run, bringing his ERA down to 3.45. When manager Warren Schaeffer removed him in the sixth, Castaño received a smattering of applause and tipped his hat to the crowd on his way to the dugout as if responding to a standing ovation.

Karros provided two doubles and the only Rockies RBI on a night when the rest of their bats were cold.

Pitching probables

Sunday: Brewers LHP Shane Drohan (2-1, 2.87) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 8.06), 1:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day

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Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Not only has Johnston been one of the National League’s most productive hitters, but he’s also injected fun and energy into the clubhouse. And he’s become a fan favorite.

“People (who) watch television can point directly to Troy, he’s got a big personality,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “We love Troy here. We absolutely love him. He brings a lot to the table in terms of his skills — on and off the field — and does bring a (special) vibe.”

What the outfielder/first baseman is doing at the plate, especially in the clutch, is exceptional. Entering Friday night’s game against the Brewers at Coors Field, Johnston was hitting .431 (22 for 51, including seven doubles) with runners in scoring position, the second-highest average in the majors behind the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz (.475, 19 for 40).

Overall, Johnston was hitting .320 with 27 RBIs.

Colorado claimed Johnston, 28, off waivers from the Marlins in November. He was by no means a lock to make the big-league team out of spring training, especially since he still has a minor league option and could have been assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

“It����ap all still just baseball,” Johnston said during spring training. “But you have to have a good, sound approach and still be athletic. And you have to have fun. So I’m doing what I can to make the team, make the adjustments I need to make, and go out and have fun.”

He’s having a ball right now. Johnston entered Friday’s game with multiple hits in a career-best four straight games. But it’s his ability to deliver baserunners to the plate that stands out most.

“With runners in scoring position, nothing should change,” Schaeffer said. “It’s all mentality. It’s all about how even-keeled you can stay. How slow is your heartbeat?

“I mean, you look at guys like (former Rockies third baseman) Nolan Arenado, or other guys who drive in a lot of runs, they stay the same guy. They don’t freak out because of the situation. They keep the same mentality — which is confidence. And Troy has a ton of it.”

Johnston, who was drafted by Miami in the 17th round of the 2019 draft out of Gonzaga, played six seasons in the minors and didn’t make his major league debut until July 29 of last season. He played in 44 games for the Marlins, slashing .277/.331/.420 with four home runs, two doubles, one triple, and 13 RBIs. With runners in scoring position, he hit .267 (8 for 30).

Johnston prides himself on his ability to handle the bat and put balls in play. He’s learned to exhale at the plate and focus on the task at hand.

“You know, I’ve been playing pro baseball for quite a while,” he said. “I don’t have that many games in the big leagues, but what I have found is that when you just try to put the ball in play, don’t press too much, and just try to make things happen, well, sometimes good things do happen.

“And sometimes it’s out of your hands. That’s all part of baseball. I try to remember that.”

Gordon to IL: Colorado’s starting rotation has taken another hit. Right-hander Tanner Gordon was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 2, with a right hip impingement.

The club recalled right-hander Zach Agnos from Triple-A Albuquerque. There is a chance that Agnos could start in Gordon’s place on Saturday against the Brewers.

Rumfield loses homer. First baseman TJ Rumfield’s home run total dropped from eight to seven on Friday when Major League Baseball made a scoring change.

In the fourth inning of the Rockies’ 8-2 win over the Angels on Tuesday night, TJ Rumfield hit a line drive to right center. Angels right fielder Jo Adell caught up to the ball, but it glanced off his glove, ricocheted off his forehead, and went over the yellow line for a home run. However, MLB ruled that Adell committed a four-base error and took the homer away from Rumfield.

Climbing the Charts

Outfielder/first baseman Troy Johnston is making his mark in his first season with the Rockies:
• .320 batting average: Ranks fifth in the majors (fourth in National League)
• .347 batting average at Coors Field: Sixth-highest home average in the majors.
• .431 batting average with RISP: Second-highest average in the majors.
• 17 doubles: Tied for fifth in the majors (fourth in NL)

Note: Through games of June 4
Source: Colorado Rockies

The Rockies’ talented first baseman was honored as the National League Rookie of the Month for May, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday.

Rumfield, 26, appeared in 25 games for the Rockies in May, slashing .310/.400/.483 with 13 runs scored, three doubles, four home runs, and 12 RBIs. He was at or near the top of the charts in several categories: batting average (first), on-base percentage (first), OPS (.883, first), home runs (tied for first), slugging percentage (second), hits (27, third), RBIs (third) and total bases (42, third).

Rumfield’s glove has been golden, too. He has not committed an error in 374 total chances.

He is the sixth Rockies player in franchise history to earn rookie of the month honors and the first since Nolan Jones won the award for September and October 2023.

For most young players, their first season in the majors is characterized by hot streaks and slumps. But Rumfield has been remarkably consistent, never going more than three games in a row without a hit.

“I think I’m most proud of my ability to take my results day to day and not read too much into certain days,” the left-handed hitter told The Post last week. “If I go 0 for 4, or if I go a 3 for something  … whatever happens that day, I feel like I can leave it at the yard. I have done a really good job of that this year and not taking it home to my wife (Hayden) and kid (Belle).”

Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has been impressed.

“TJ has the ability to mentally stay the same every day, no matter the environment,” Schaeffer told The Post. “Whether he’s at Coors Field or Dodger Stadium, wherever he is …

“He’s doing that for the first time in the big leagues, and that just shows me he’s going to be like that his entire career. That����ap impressive.”

They ripped the Rockies‘ woeful pitching for 25 hits, including 13 extra-base hits — nine doubles, one triple and three homers — on their way to a 19-6 rout.

The Giants’ onslaught included a grand slam by shortstop Willy Adames off Zach Agnos in a seven-run fifth inning. It was the sixth career grand slam for Adames.

The Rockies (22-38) entered the game with two things on the line. First, had they beaten the Giants (23-36), they would have escaped last place in the National League West and planted San Francisco in the cellar. Second, Colorado was looking for its first sweep of the Giants since Sept. 3-5, 2018, at Coors.

No dice. The Giants were aggressive from the outset and kept piling on. The 25 hits were their most since pounding out 27 against the Rockies on Sept. 1, 2020, at Coors Field

“They came out ready to hit today,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It was just a bad game. You have those every now and then. You take winning the series.”

Colorado starter Tanner Gordon pitched three-plus innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Agnos was tagged for seven runs on seven hits, and his ERA soared to 7.78. Juan Mejia gave up three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Keegan Thompson was ripped for three runs on four hits in two innings. You get the idea.

And, for the fourth time in the last 12 games, catcher Brett Sullivan — Colorado’s human white flag — was called on to pitch in relief. In 1 1/3 innings, he gave up two runs on five hits, including a two-run homer to Jesus Rodriguez in the ninth.

Gordon got the hook in the fourth inning after allowing the first two batters to reach. At that point, he had already thrown 75 pitches.

“You got to set the tone for the game, and just a little sloppy in the beginning, just wasn’t getting ahead of guys,” said Gordon, who was coming off a solid start in Los Angeles when he was charged with one run on six hits over five innings.

“(Today) I was basically the complete opposite of what happened last time,” he added. “I mean, it was super efficient, and it just wasn’t today.”

Sunday’s game was not for baseball purists. It took 3 hours and 38 minutes to complete. There were six errors committed (three on each side), 396 pitches (108 in the first two innings) and 98 foul balls.

Pitching probables

Monday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 8.08 ERA) at Angels RHP Jose Soriano (6-4, 2.65), 7:38 p.m.
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-4, 4.01) at Angels RHP Grayson Rodriguez (2-1, 7.53), 7:38 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-7, 7.22) at Angels RHP Walbert Urena (2-4, 2.44), 7:38 p.m.
Thursday: Off day

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

“Did he do it? Did he do it?” his teammates shouted. “Oh, he did it!”

A huge grin spread across Rumfield’s face.

Yep, home run to the third deck in right during Friday’s batting practice at Coors Field. A small slice of fun in a season that has the Rockies’ first baseman in the conversation for National League Rookie of the Year.

For most young players, their first season in the majors is a rollercoaster characterized by hot streaks and slumps. But the 26-year-old Rumfield has been remarkably consistent, never going more than three games in a row without a hit.

“I think I’m most proud of my ability to take my results day to day and not read too much into certain days,” the left-handed hitter said. “If I go 0 for 4, or if I go a 3 for something  … whatever happens that day, I feel like I can leave it at the yard. I have done a really good job of that this year and not taking it home to my wife (Hayden) and kid (Belle).”

Manager Warren Schaeffer has noticed.

“TJ has the ability to mentally stay the same every day, no matter the environment,” Schaeffer said. “Whether he’s at Coors Field or Dodger Stadium, wherever he is, he has the ability to stay like this.”

Schaeffer extended a steady hand to illustrate his point.

“He’s doing that for the first time in the big leagues, and that just shows me he’s going to be like that his entire career,”  Schaeffer continued. “That’s impressive.”

The Rockies have had only one player win Rookie of the Year, starting pitcher Jason Jennings in 2002. But with more than one-third of the season in the books, Rumfield’s qualifications are legitimate.

Entering Saturday’s game against the Giants, he was slashing .279/.356/.442 (.797 OPS) with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. His 15.3% strikeout rate is the lowest on the team, and his 9.0% walk rate ranks second to third baseman Kyle Karros (13.1%). He is hitting .280 (14 for 50) with runners in scoring position, ranking second to Troy’s Johnston’s sizzling .419 average (18 for 43).

“He’s mature, really mature,” outfielder Jake McCarthy said. “His approach at the plate is super-pro. Even when he gets beat, he manages to put the ball in play, see a lot of pitches, and swing at the right pitches.

“I’ve seen him have games where he has O-fers, and then the next day he comes back and has five really good at-bats. That’s a big part of this job. He does not play like a rookie. It’s really impressive.”

Colorado acquired the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Rumfield in a Jan. 28 trade with the Yankees for right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli. Chivilli made two appearances with the Yankees this season but has been on the injured list since April 25 with shoulder discomfort.

The Rockies had hoped that Michael Toglia, their first-round draft choice in 2019 (23rd overall), would be the long-term answer at first base. But Toglia’s exorbitant strikeout rate last season (39.2%) forced the Rockies to cut him loose.

When the Rockies traded for Rumfield, they hoped to get a player who would battle for the starting job at first base and fill in as a designated hitter. Rumfield has exceeded expectations.

“There is a real sense of timing and a consistent approach that stands out even more than the numbers,” general manager Josh Byrnes said. “He’s an adjustable, creative hitter. He can face a righty with this kind of arsenal, and righty with that kind of arsenal.  Ahead in the count, behind in the count, whatever tweaks you have to make as a hitter, he makes. He has quite a few clubs in his bag and has multiple ways to conduct an at-bat. That’s rare for a rookie.”

Rumfield’s minor-league numbers were strong, but he was blocked in the Bronx by Ben Rice, who has become a star at first base.

Last season, at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Rumfield had an .825 OPS with 16 home runs. He was ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the Yankees’ farm system. What Rumfield needed was a chance.

“I think you have to consider him a rookie-of-the-year candidate,” said Kyle Freeland, Colorado’s veteran left-hander. “He’s playing great defense at first base, and he’s been hitting the ball at a very consistent rate, all the way from spring training until now.”

Freeland agreed with McCarthy’s take that Rumfield conducts himself like a veteran, not a rookie.

“We see stuff in the clubhouse, behind the scenes, that the fans and the media don’t see,” Freeland said. “But I see him go about his day-to-day business like a true pro. If he has a bad game at the plate, he doesn’t dwell on it, and doesn’t try to make up for it the next day. He just goes out and tries to help the team win anyway he can. He’s done a good job of grasping that.”

According to Schaeffer, Rumfield’s solid defense is sometimes overlooked. Schaeffer has a point. Entering Saturday night’s game, Rumfield had a 1.000% fielding percentage, committing zero errors in 360 total chances at first.

“We don’t talk about it much, but his defense has been really, really good,” Schaeffer said. “He’s saving errors for guys, making really tough plays over there. He’s got good hands. Good hands on a big man.”

Awards season is a long way off, and Rumfield faces robust competition for Rookie of the Year, including Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt, Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, and Nationals right-hander Foster Griffin. But if Rumfield stays his consistent course — and adds some more power, something he’s quite capable of — he’ll be in the running.

Rumfield credits Schaeffer for much of his success this season.

“I’m playing free because ‘Schaeff’ has shown confidence in my abilities and trusted me, and that’s huge,” Rumfield said. “This game is so hard. I know we have two-thirds of the season left, and it’s going to be a day-to-day grind. My job is to stay on top of my craft and try to develop a game plan that can help this team win.”

Rumfield’s Rookie Resume

Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield is making a case for National League rookie of the year. A snapshot of his season:

• 55 hits: Leads the Rockies and ranks second among all major league rookies, (first in the NL)
• .281 average: Second in the majors
• 27 RBIs: Fifth in the majors
• 17 extra-base hits: Tied for fifth in the majors
• .807 OPS: Tied for fourth in the majors

Note: Through games of Friday, May 29.
Source: Colorado Rockies

If that were really true, then it would make no sense to point out that after 55 games last season, the Rockies had a 9-46 record. Or to note that after 55 games this season, the Rockies are 20-35 — an 11-game improvement.

But, in the real world, you can’t separate the two seasons. We need a measuring stick to gauge the state of the Rockies. So, using Memorial Day as a traditional baseball milestone, here is an assessment of the club with one-third of the season in the books:

Won-loss record: Colorado entered Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles with the lowest winning percentage (.364) in the majors and the worst run-differential (minus-65). The woeful Angels (20-34, .370, minus-62) are competing with the Rockies as the worst team in baseball.

At their current pace, the Rockies would finish the season 59-103 and become the first team since the 1961-64 Washington Senators to suffer four consecutive 100-loss seasons.

Starting rotation: Paul DePodesta, the first-year president of baseball operations, spent $19.1 million to sign veteran pitchers Michael Lorenzen ($8 million), Jose Quintana ($6.0), and Tomoyuki Sugano ($5.1 million). The theory was that adding the trio would stabilize the rotation and give Colorado’s young pitchers time to develop. It’s a solid plan.

But after a relatively strong start, the plan is falling apart. Rockies starters had a 5.67 ERA entering Tuesday night’s game. That’s the worst in the majors, and although it’s not as bad as the historically bad 6.65 ERA the rotation posted last season, it’s heading in that direction.

The Rockies have a 6-17 record in May, and the starters’ failures are the chief culprit. They are  2-13 with a 7.11 ERA, though right-hander Tanner Gordon gave Colorado five solid innings on Monday night to stop the bleeding.

Sugano’s excellent start on Friday night in Arizona (6 2/3 innings and two runs allowed) was an anomaly. It provided Colorado with its first quality start since Quintana (six innings, one run) on May 1 against the Braves. Sugano’s outing snapped a streak of 18 consecutive starts without a quality start by a Colorado pitcher, the third-longest drought in franchise history and the longest since a 21-game stretch June 5-28, 2012.

Injuries, coupled with a lack of quality depth, have played a major role. Quintana left Sunday’s start in Arizona in the second inning with elbow pain and is now on the 15-day injured list. Right-hander Chase Dollander (right elbow sprain) won’t even begin throwing for another two weeks. At least right-hander Ryan Feltner (right ulnar nerve inflammation) will return to the rotation this week. He’s been out since April 24.

While Sugano has been solid (4-3, 3.86 ERA), Lorenzen has been one of the worst pitchers in the majors with a 7.21 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, and a .353 batting average against.

And home-grown lefty Kyle Freeland has struggled since coming back from the IL (left shoulder tightness) on April 28. In five starts since his return, he’s posted a 10.32 ERA.

What’s especially concerning is that the Rockies’ pitching prospects seem a long way away from helping out.

Of the Rockies’ top 10 prospects (MLB Pipeline), only three of them are pitchers: right-handers JB Middleton and Brody Brecht, and lefty Griffin Herring. None of them is expected to debut until 2027, at the earliest. Lefty Sean Sullivan (No. 11) and Gabriel Hughes (No. 16) could be in the rotation sooner, but neither projects as an impact starter.

Colorado needs more talented young pitching in the system, perhaps via trades.

Power outage: Colorado entered Tuesday’s game with 46 home runs, tied for the fifth-fewest with Arizona, Detroit and San Francisco. In May, the Rockies have slugged only 15 homers, tied with the D-Backs for the third fewest. The Rockies have hit only 21 homers at Coors Field, the fourth-fewest at home among big-league teams. The Blake Street Bombers are not on deck.

Though Schaeffer loves homers, he says he’s not overly concerned by his team’s lack of power.

“You don’t need to win by hitting home runs,” Schaeffer told reporters on Saturday night in Arizona. “You win by doing a lot of different things. We won a game (Friday) night without hitting a homer. I’ll take that 162 times.”

Poor execution: The Rockies brass won’t say it publicly, but there is a huge talent gap between the Rockies and most of the teams they play. Add in the lack of power and bad starting pitching, and it’s easy to see why they are heading for another 100-loss season.

Schaeffer and the front office want a fast, athletic team that pushes the action. The Rockies have done that, at times, this season. But Schaeffer’s style of baseball requires sharp execution and precision. That’s been lacking in May. Too many walks by the pitchers and too many empty at-bats and poorly executed bunts have frustrated Schaeffer.

“Both of their leadoff walks scored, and we had eight free passes; that’s not good enough,” Schaeffer told reporters on Thursday night after a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Diamondbacks. “We can’t do that. And (there was a) lack of execution. They execute, we don’t execute tonight, and we lose. Story of the game.”

Right-hander Ryan Feltner pitched five strong innings for Triple-A Albuquerque in a rehab start and should be returning to the big-league club soon. The Rockies desperately need him because their starting rotation is in a shambles.

Feltner, who was dealing with right ulnar nerve inflammation, allowed one run on six hits, struck out five, and walked one. He threw 67 pitches, 44 for strikes.

In their 9-1 drubbing at the hands of the Diamondbacks on Sunday at Chase Field, veteran left-hander Jose Quintana departed with one out in the second inning with a tight and painful left elbow. Before leaving the game, he was bludgeoned by Arizona, giving up six runs on six hits, including a leadoff double to Ketel Marte in the first, immediately followed by a triple by Corbin Carroll.

“It’s just elbow tightness,” manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Phoenix.  “His elbow tightened up on him; discomfort in there. So we had to get him out of the game.”

But Quintana, pitching on a one-year, $6 million contract, sounded a more ominous tone, telling MLB.com: “It feels pretty bad right now, quite painful. In the second inning, I felt (stress) in my elbow. That’s the first time I have felt that. It’s really frustrating to leave the game in the middle of the inning.”

Schaeffer said that there were no indications that Quintana’s elbow was bothering him heading into Sunday’s start.

“It’s just happened today,” Schaeffer said, but he did not provide more updates.

Quintana added that he felt some fatigue in his elbow while warming up before the game. He said he’s hoping for the best and expects to undergo an MRI on Monday.

“I didn’t feel any pop in (my elbow) and I don’t feel like there’s anything broken,” he said. “But I felt a lot of pain, especially with my offspeed (pitches). I felt a heaviness in the elbow.”

Quintanta, along with veteran right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, has been the Rockies’ only reliable starter of late, especially with right-hander Chase Dollander on the injured list with elbow tightness. Entering Sunday’s game, Quintana was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in his four starts this month.

Dollander is expected to be shut down from throwing for at least another three weeks, so Feltner’s return is paramount. Schaeffer, however, did not say if Feltner will be rejoining the rotation later this week.

“We will be discussing that behind closed doors,” Schaeffer said, adding that he’d announce Feltner’s status on either Monday or Tuesday when the Rockies are in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers.

Overall, things have gone from mediocre to bad for Colorado. After inspiring hope with a 14-18 record in March and April, the Rockies own a 6-16 record in May. Bad starting pitching is at the root of the losses. Colorado starters are 2-13 with an 8.26 ERA. Michael Lorenzen, who, along with Quintana and Sugano, was signed as a free agent during the offseason, is 2-7 with a 7.21 ERA this season. Colorado mainstay Kyle Freeland is 1-5 with a 7.04 ERA.

Poor performance and short starts have taxed the bullpen. So much so that on Sunday, for the second time in less than a week, catcher Brett Sullivan was called to the mound to finish the game to save bullpen arms.

The Rockies lost three of four in Arizona, and all of them were close games, save for Sunday’s blowout. Arizona won 2-1 on Thursday, Colorado won 3-2 on Friday, and the D-backs prevailed, 5-4, on Saturday.

“Listen, this series, I thought we played well enough to win three out of the four games,” Schaeffer said. “Lack of execution loses one-run ballgames. They executed, and we didn’t, in general. We just need to get over that hump and start flipping those one-run games the other way.”

Pitching probables

Monday: Rockies TBA at Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.93 ERA), 7:10 p.m.
Tuesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-5, 7.04) at Dodgers LHP Eric Lauer (1-5, 6.69), 8:10 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies TBA at Dodgers RHP Shohei Ohtani (4-2, 0.73), 8:10 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

From 1986 to 2008, Maddux was baseball’s ultimate control pitcher, and home plate umpires were his friends. He won 335 games and posted a 3.16 ERA. The right-hander struck out 3,371 batters and walked just 999.

For those too young to remember, here’s the introduction to on the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s website:

“At times, Greg Maddux’s mastery of the strike zone seemed effortless. Fastball down-and-away – on the black – for strike one. Fastball in on the hands for strike two. Change-up away for strike three.

“Pitch after pitch, strike after strike for the average-looking right-hander who elevated “control” to a new definition in the 1990s.”

Pitchers like Maddux and Tom Glavine, his Atlanta teammate, were craftsmen, pitching on the edges and moving the ball around the plate. There was a well-founded perception that umpires gave them an expanded strike zone. When the duo was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, the running joke was that they should receive extra-wide plaques.

There is no question that ABS has changed the game that Maddux and Glavine knew. As of last week, the majors’ walk rate (9.4%) is 1% higher than last year’s end-of-season figure. If the current rate holds up for the rest of the season, it would be the highest since 2000. Only five seasons have produced a walk rate higher than 9.5%: 1948 to 1951 and 2000.

Like Mark from Glenwood Springs, I was intrigued by the Maddux Question. So I asked around about how Maddux would fare in the ABS era.

“I think he would have been still great because the decision on when to challenge would be tough, because he was so good at hitting his spots,” said of the 1990s. Smoltz entered Cooperstown in 2015 and is now Fox Sports’ lead baseball analyst.

“So the two challenges would have to be perfect all the time by the hitters,” Smoltz continued. “People don’t realize that the art of pitching is to put pressure on the hitter to decide to swing or not, and for the umpire to call a strike or not.

“Maddux could throw a strike any time he wanted, but he could also put it on the corners any time he wanted. Good luck to the hitters who could recognize a ball out of his hand. Or stay off his changeup.”

for The Athletic, pondered the Maddux Question and gave me a terrific answer.

“This is so fun to think about,” Stark said. “Would ABS have forced Maddux to pitch differently? Absolutely. But would he have figured it out? Of course, he would. He’s Greg Maddux. He was a pitching genius.

“He’d have cracked the code of ABS before anyone else even knew there was a code. I wish I could haul out my time machine and see how he would have done it.”

When I asked Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer the question, he got a little spicy.

“Greg Maddux would make the adjustments he needed to make and would still be one of the greatest pitchers of all time,” Schaeffer said. “He’s one of one.”

When I pointed out that Maddux’s reputation effectively turned balls out of the zone into strikes — at least in the eyes of the umpires, Schaeffer had a ready answer.

“Yeah, that helped, at times, and I’ve seen videos of umpires giving him pitches this far off,” Schaffer said, holding his index fingers about 5 inches apart. “But today, he would find ways to get hitters out. I guarantee it.

“Maddux was the greatest of all time doing that — putting it where he wants to. The greatest of all time. OK, it’s hard for me to say the greatest of all-time. I’m 41 years old, and I don’t know everything. But as far as what I have seen and what I grew up watching, Greg Maddux was the greatest of all time (controlling pitches). So, of course, Greg Maddux would succeed now.  But it’s a good question.”

Yes, it is. So thanks, Mark Straus from Glenwood Springs.