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Colorado Rockies: 3 keys to winning the Wild Card game in Arizona

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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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 16: Greg Holland #56 rubs the baseball during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on April 16, 2017 in San Francisco, California. The Rockies defeated the Giants 4-3. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 16: Greg Holland #56 rubs the baseball during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on April 16, 2017 in San Francisco, California. The Rockies defeated the Giants 4-3. (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) /

Lining up for Colorado’s bullpen

In a one-game matchup, anything can happen when it comes to pitching. However, if Colorado gets the lead, it may give Black the opportunity to use his bullpen on an inning-by-inning basis.

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Let’s say Jon Gray gives the Rockies five innings. Black could conceivably hand the ball over to Chris Rusin for the sixth, Jake McGee or Mike Dunn for the seventh, Pat Neshek for the eighth and Greg Holland to close things out in the ninth. If Gray lasts longer than five, Rusin could be used later and McGee, Dunn or Neshek might be brought in to face just a batter or two.

If Gray goes less than five, Black still has the ability to bring Rusin in to be the bridge between his starter and late-game specialists. Rusin and his 2.65 ERA have already proven that he can handle situation from multiple innings to just one out. Don’t be surprised if he pitches for longer periods on Wednesday night.

Neshek and Holland also have postseason experience, a fact that could play big in a close game where nerves will be running high. Let them be the last two guys on the mound for the Rockies and it serves as a good omen for Colorado.

Next: Relive the exact moment the Rockies clinched the Wild Card

Speaking of Holland, he finished 5-for-5 in save opportunities with a .114 opponent batting average in September. He seems to have put his August struggles way behind him.

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