Colorado Rockies: The post- All-Star break pitching rotation

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SEATTLE, WA – JULY 7: Starter Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on July 7, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

When the Colorado Rockies resume play after the All Star break, their starting rotation will reset with a new #1 starter. Here’s a glimpse at what it could look like.

1. Kyle Freeland

This is a no-brainier. Not only has the Denver native been the Rockies’ ace this season, but he’s developed into one of the best pitchers in the National League. Freeland is 8-6 with a 3.11 ERA and has led a revived Rockies’ rotation back to prominence and helped carry his team to into the heat of playoff competition. He currently sits fifth among all NL players in WAR, but somehow missed out on an All star Game selection. For the Rockies, when its all on the line, Freeland is the guy you want on the mound.

2. Tyler Anderson

Anderson’s been around for parts of three seasons now and he’s hit enough short rough patches to inflate his numbers to the point that it can be hard to tell how good he really is. But if he continues pitching like he is right now, that will no longer be a problem by the end of the season. The lefty is having a career year at 6-3, 3.76, and 102 K’s. Over his last seven starts, Anderson has been nearly untouchable, posting a 2.09 ERA and a K/9 over 9. This stretch includes back-to-back games of 8 scoreless innings where Anderson looked a lot like the guy who put up a 1.19 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in his final four games of 2017.

DENVER, CO – JULY 3: Starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela #49 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on July 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

3. German Marquez

Marquez struggled early-on but has the stuff to be an elite pitcher at the big-league level. We saw it last season when he was, at times, the Rockies best pitcher and we’ve seen it again in his last three starts over which he has a 1.80 ERA.

The best of those starts came in a key match-up against the Dodgers when he gave up one run on just two hits over eight innings.

4. Antonio Senzatela/Jon Gray

Senzatela stepped into Gray’s spot in the rotation after Gray was demoted to AAA. Senzatela’s first start was great, surrendering no runs on just 3 hits over 7 innings. His second start was not as bad as it looked on paper the morning after.

Senzatela gave up 3 runs in the first but retired 13 of 14 batters faced before a walk and a single set up Ryon Healy for a 3-run homer in the 6th. His start Friday night could determine whether or not he stays in the rotation. Gray, has pitched decently at AAA Albuquerque and could see a return to the Rockies in the second half.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 01: Chad Bettis #35 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 1, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

5. Chad Bettis/Gray/Yency Almonte

After a strong start, Bettis has struggled and watched his ERA skyrocket to 5.10. He was placed on the DL with a blister and though he was scheduled to return Saturday, he has been scratched from that start and the Rockies are yet to name his replacement. Gray could make his return in Bettis’ place, or the Rockies could opt to give Almonte his first big-league start.

Almonte, who turned 24 in June, was ranked as the number 10 prospect in the Rockies farm system by MLB.com at the beginning of the season. At the major league level this year, Almonte has pitched 4 innings over 3 games out of the bullpen for Colorado this season and only given up 2 unearned runs. Depending on how long Bettis is out with the blister, his spot in the rotation could remain a question mark into the second half.

Final Thoughts

This picture could change if the Rockies add a veteran starter to the mix before the deadline, but for the time being, at least the front end of the rotation looks pretty set.

Next: Kyle Freeland deserves to be an All-Star

With Freeland and Anderson leading the way, it looks like the Rockies’ starters may finally be putting it all together.

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