Colorado Rockies: 3 numbers to know before the San Diego series

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 29: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the opening day MLB game at Chase Field on March 29, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 29: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the opening day MLB game at Chase Field on March 29, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Jon Gray of the Colorado Rockies
PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 29: Starting pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies reacts as he walks off the mound during the first inning of the opening day MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 29, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

I talked about Tyler Anderson’s trouble finding the strike zone on the previous page, but it isn’t just him. Rockies pitchers allowed 16 walks in the three-game series in Arizona. That’s the third-highest total for any Major League team through the first trio of 2018 contests.

If there is one thing that drives Colorado manager Bud Black crazy, it’s issuing the free pass … and Rockies pitchers did plenty of that in the desert.

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Perhaps even more maddening is the fact that Colorado starters Jon Gray, Anderson and German Marquez walked 11 batters in a combined 11.1 innings in Arizona. That is the highest for any trio of Major League starters to open the 2018 season … and it’s something that has to stop for the rotation to have success.

There is a flip side, of course. Colorado relievers walked just five batters in 13.2 innings of work. That tied for the 11th-most in the Majors through the first three games. While it’s not stellar, it’s certainly an improvement over the starters.

San Diego drew a total of 11 walks against Milwaukee pitchers over the weekend. Will the Padres be patient against Colorado starters if they once again have difficulty finding the strike zone? It’s something to watch early on at Petco Park.