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Colorado Rockies: 3 numbers you should know on Saturday

By Kevin Henry

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Rockies snapped their four-game losing streak on Friday night with a 4-1 decision over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The win not only erased Colorado’s losing streak, but also its offensive drought. Prior to a two-run home run by Nolan Arenado in the top of the fifth on Saturday night, the Rockies hadn’t scored in 24 innings.

Colorado continues its four-game series in San Diego on Saturday night when Chad Bettis (1-3, 6.23 ERA) takes the mound against former Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (12-10, 4.12 ERA). Heading into the contest, here are three numbers we think you should know.

8 – That’s the current elimination number for Colorado’s closest competitor to the second Wild Card spot. That number would belong to the St. Louis Cardinals, who now stand just 1.5 games behind the Rockies for the Wild Card. Milwaukee’s extra-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday night slid the Brewers behind the Cardinals in not only the chase for the Wild Card but also the hunt for the National League Central crown.

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Milwaukee is now 2 games behind the Rockies with an elimination number of 7. They also now just hold a 10.8 percent chance of making the postseason, according to FanGraphs. After Friday, that same prediction shows Colorado with a 66 percent chance of grabbing the Wild Card and St. Louis with a 23.6 percent chance.

15 – That is the number of Greg Holland needed in the bottom of the ninth inning to lock down his 41st save of the season, tying Jose Jimenez for the all-time Rockies single season record he established in 2002.

Holland pitched a clean ninth, striking out two on his way to the save. Of his 15 pitches, nine went for strikes. That’s a good sign for the Rockies heading into the stretch for the Wild Card as Holland improved to 5-for-5 in save opportunities in September. Opponents are hitting just .071 against him this month as well.

3.62 – That is Jon Gray’s current ERA after he once again dominated the Padres Friday night. Gray allowed just one run over six innings and struck out eight as he improved to 3-1 in September with a 2.17 ERA. He has also struck out 34 while walking just seven in 29 innings this month.

Next: Remembering one of the great moments of Rocktober 2007

Gray told me in an exclusive interview before the month began that he believed good things were ahead this month. He has been spot on with his prediction as his ERA has dropped from 5.52 entering August by almost two runs in his 10 starts since then.

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