Colorado Rockies: Looking ahead to the 2019 rotation

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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 5: 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 September 5, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Much like the Colorado Rockies’ offense was in the four playoff games, I decided that I would remain silent for a few days as I processed the disappointment that was the 2018 Rocktober (Cheap shot? I kid because I care). After multiple alcoholic beverages and several sleepless nights, I was finally able to close the book on this season and look towards 2019.

Believe it or not, the future looks extremely bright and it is due a very un-Colorado Rockies-like reason … the starting pitching staff.

As bad as the offense was in the playoffs, it was the starting pitchers that kept the Rockies’ within striking distance of pulling off a couple of wins and extending the playoffs. In the four games, starters Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Tyler Anderson and Antonio Senzatela pitched a combined 22.2 innings, giving up five runs on 18 hits while striking out 17 and only walking five for an impressive ERA of 2.03. These four players give a positive outlook for the upcoming seasons.

Rather than look behind, however, let’s look ahead to what these pitchers can do next season. With that in mind, here is a way too early look at the potential Colorado Rockies 2019 starting rotation.

DENVER, CO – JULY 29: German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning of a game during interleague play at Coors Field on July 29, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Kyle Freeland

Freeland had arguably the greatest season for a starting pitcher in franchise history. The Denver native, in his second professional season, took a huge step forward by breaking Ubaldo Jimenez‘s ERA record with a 2.85 ERA and tied for second for most wins in a season with 17. In 2019, the Rockies will hope that Freeland builds off his success and takes an even bigger step by joining the likes of Kershaw, Scherzer, deGrom, and Nola as the elite pitchers of the National League.

German Marquez

A new Rockies’ strikeout king was crowned in 2018. Marquez surpassed Pedro Astacio and his 210 strikeouts by throwing 230 of his own. Marquez, much like the rest of the rotation, needs to learn how to get out of the first inning (Rockies had a Major League-worst 7.23 ERA). However, when he is on, he can be the most dominant pitcher on the roster.

Tyler Anderson

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Anderson had an up and down season and the Rockies will be looking for more consistency from him in 2019. If you remove the months of May and August from his stats, Anderson was 5-4 with 3.19 ERA and 13 quality starts in 22 games.

Unfortunately, in the other two months he was 2-5 with an atrocious 7.87 ERA in 10 starts. He has to maintain his good mechanics throughout the year to avoid these bad stretches.

Antonio Senzatela

Senzatela was excellent down the stretch after spending the first half of the season in the bullpen and in the minors. The big question surrounding Senzatela is can he give the Rockies 30+ starts over an entire season. He only started 13 games in his 23 appearances this season after starting 20 the year before. His stuff projects better out of the ‘pen but he has shown to be a valuable piece of the rotation when called upon.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals int he first inning of a game at Coors Field on September 29, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Others

Chad Bettis and Jeff Hoffman will try to break into the rotation but it will be difficult with the logjam of arms that are already there.

Bettis is the most experienced and oldest of all of the starters and could be used in out of the bullpen in long relief or as a spot starter. Hoffman still has a ton of potential but has struggled to find opportunities to shine. He could possibly become a nice trade chip as he become stuck in purgatory waiting for his shot in the big leagues.

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In case you didn’t notice, there is a huge name that I did not list. Jon Gray‘s roller coaster season started with an Opening Day start and ended with him being completely left off the playoff roster with a Triple-A demotion in between. Gray suggests he wasn’t healthy and vows to comeback stronger physically and mentally next season but did 2018 leave lasting damage to his reputation and Rockies’ faith in him?

This winter will be critical for his career and his future with the Rockies. If he is able to return to his “Gray Wolf” form, he could solidify an already young and talented rotation. But if he can’t, a move to the bullpen or a change of scenery altogether may be best for both the former third overall pick in the 2013 draft and the Rockies.

Most importantly, the future looks bright because the Rockies have all of these young pitchers under contract for multiple seasons. Bettis won’t become a free agent until after the 2020 season. Anderson and Gray enter their first year of arbitration this winter so they won’t be free agents until ’21. Then finally, Freeland, Marquez, Senzatela, and Hoffman have one more year before they are eligible for arbitration and won’t be on market until ’22.

Our exclusive conversation with Rockies GM Jeff Bridich. dark. Next

For as frustrating as the playoffs were for the Rockies, the pitching staff held their own and proved that they could compete with one of the better offenses in the National League. With the entire rotation likely returning, expectations could be at an all-time high for 2019.

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