Colorado Rockies: The rotation has been … good on this road trip?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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It seems like forever ago that the Colorado Rockies gave up 44 runs in the four-game series against the San Diego Padres. At that time, fans were up in arms over the absolutely awful performances by the pitching staff, especially from the starting rotation.

Believe it or not, but since that outrageous record-breaking series, the Colorado Rockies‘ rotation is one of the biggest reasons why the team is 4-3 on their current nine-game road trip.

Despite a league-worst 5.48 ERA, in the past seven games, the Rockies’ rotation is 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA, giving up 11 runs (nine earned) in 40.2 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP.

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Unfortunately for the rotation, they have been overshadowed by the three consecutive heartbreaking walk-off home runs the bullpen gave up to the Dodgers this past weekend. That includes German Marquez masterful performance opposite Walker Buehler as Marquez went eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out eight and walking none.

Even though it hasn’t garnered the desired results, the Rockies rotation has taken a huge load off of the overburdened bullpen. On this road trip, the rotation has produced five quality starts. In the other two, rookie Peter Lambert pitched a productive five innings against the Dodgers … and then there was Jeff Hoffman‘s awful 2.2 innings which led to his demotion back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

The rotation’s recent success will be challenged tonight with the call-up of Chi
Chi Gonzalez, who hasn’t started a Major League since 2016, opposite Madison Bumgarner. However, with Marquez scheduled to start on Wednesday, the rotation looks to have had a much needed bounce back from that horrid weekend against the Padres.

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Even with the bounce back, the true test will be how the rotation responds once they return home to Coors Field on Thursday. It is one thing to pitch well on the road, but for the Rockies to make a playoff run, they will need to pitch much better at the corner of 20th and Blake.