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

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PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 30: Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson #44 of the Colorado Rockies is removed by manager Bud Black #10 during the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 30, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

After taking one of three games in the season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Colorado Rockies continue their seven-game road trip on Monday night by opening up a four-game set in San Diego against the Padres, who started the season by being swept at home by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Chad Bettis will take the mound on Monday night for his first regular-season appearance, facing off against San Diego’s Bryan Mitchell. Bettis has never won in seven career games (five starts) at Petco Park, so the Rockies starter will have some history to overcome.

Kyle Freeland is scheduled to make his season debut on Tuesday while Jon Gray will have the chance to rebound from a rough start in Arizona on Wednesday night. Thursday’s series finale will see Tyler Anderson return to the mound in a matinee affair. Can Anderson find the strike zone in San Diego after walking four Diamondbacks in 2.1 innings on Friday night?

Colorado had the day off on Sunday so it gave us some time to look at a few numbers that jumped out at us from the series in Arizona. Sure, it was just three games. However, there are still some numbers to know heading into San Diego.

Let’s dive in…

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 11^th-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.

PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 31: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies makes the force out on A.J. Pollock #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on March 31, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Of course, walks are just one way batters can reach base. Against the Diamondbacks, Colorado pitchers surrendered a .368 on base percentage, tying them for 25^thin the league out of 30 teams.

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Arizona hitters posted a .258 average against Rockies pitchers in winning two of three games. That includes a .313 average against Colorado starters.

Jon Gray and Tyler Anderson will have a chance to redeem themselves before heading back to Coors Field for the home opener on Friday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves. That’s a very good thing, especially for Anderson, who gave up a league-high seven earned runs against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona hit .417 against Anderson and .333 against Gray, pushing them both into the bottom 12 performances of MLB’s opening weekend slate. They weren’t fooling batters and, when Arizona wasn’t swinging, they often couldn’t find the strike zone. That is a recipe for disaster as Colorado learned the hard way in the desert.

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) /

Much of the negative focus on the offensive side of things in Arizona fell on Trevor Story, who struck out seven times in 12 at-bats and has started the season just 1-for-12 with a Thursday night single as his only success of the early season.

However, it’s not just Story who is swinging and missing. Colorado batters struck out 34 times in 102 at-bats against the Diamondbacks. Only the Chicago Cubs struck out more than the Rockies through their first three games … but the Cubs also had 32 more plate appearances while striking out seven more times (41 total).

Story’s single is also symbolic of Colorado’s extra-base drought in Arizona. Sure, the Rockies blasted seven home runs to help account for their 12 runs against the Diamondbacks. However, of the 25 hits Colorado logged at Chase Field, 16 went for singles. A pair of doubles were the only other extra-base hits along with the seven homers the Rockies could muster against Arizona pitching.

Next: 3 things we learned in the opening series against Arizona

At pitcher-friendly Petco Park, it may be tough for the Rockies to find their extra-base mojo … but it will certainly help their cause if they can cut down on the strikeouts and put the ball into play.

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