Four Colorado Rockies pitchers out of options and under pressure

Chi Chi Gonzalez

On the surface, the 28-year-old Gonzalez went 2-6 with a 5.29 ERA and 99 ERA+ in 14 games (12 starts) with the Rockies in 2019. But there’s much more to the right-hander’s year than just those numbers and the key he might hold for Colorado this season.

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Gonzalez shined in September, going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in five starts. Those starts included times on the hill against the Los Angeles Dodgers (twice), St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers, so Gonzalez was shining against some of the National League’s toughest competition. Plus, in three of those September outings, he went six innings or more.

With Chad Bettis and Tyler Anderson no longer in the rotation mix, Gonzalez is considered one of the front-runners to fill the fourth or fifth starter role for the Rockies in 2020. If he can match his September numbers (something the Rockies desperately need this season), Gonzalez could solidify a back end of the rotation that is currently a question mark.

Gonzalez and the two pitchers listed after this are the candidates for not only a starting role but also could fill a long-relief role as well. Our prediction? Gonzalez slates into a starting role, likely as the number four starter.

Editor’s Note: It was reported by Kyle Newman of The Denver Post about two weeks after this article was published that Gonzalez actually has one remaining option left on his contract as he had four options originally, not the standard three options.