De La Rosa Set For Colorado Rockies’ Return Home

Jul 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) fields a ground ball during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

It doesn’t matter what you think about the series in San Francisco or the Colorado Rockies and their fast April start: this news is, in the long run, maybe even better. 

Well, it looks to be official now: when the Colorado Rockies return to Denver on Monday, Jorge De La Rosa will begin his season in earnest and helm the starting rotation, hopefully for the rest of the summer.

According to the Denver Post, De La Rosa is due to start against the Padres Monday night.

Here’s more from the always-wonderful Patrick Saunders:

"Finally, the 2015 season is set to begin for lefty Jorge De La Rosa. The Rockies’ top pitcher, sidelined since spring training with a nagging left groin strain, is scheduled to make his debut Monday night against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field.“I feel good. I’m ready and excited to get started,” De La Rosa said Wednesday."

De La Rosa had been scheduled to start Sunday in Los Angeles based on when he last threw his rehab days in AAA Albuquerque (you can check those out here and here), but the Rockies decided to take advantage of his incredible record at Coors Field.

Remember, De La Rosa is 45-14 with a sub-4.00 ERA lifetime at Coors Field, and in 2014 – when the Rockies lost 96 games, he went 10-2 at home with an ERA just a shade north of 3.00.

The Dodgers may be the team to beat in the NL West this year, but considering (a) the Rockies are making headway on the road trip thanks to their dominance in San Francisco, and (b) De La Rosa’s dominance at home, it’s probably wise to bump De La Rosa to Monday.

The starting rotation has been… good enough this year. They’re not going deep into games, though, and even though De La Rosa is no 200-inning workhorse, his consistency will be a welcome addition to the staff at a time when the bullpen will really need it.