Colorado Rockies podcast: The bullpen and the elusive .500 mark

The Colorado Rockies are in Washington, D.C., for a four-game series against the Nationals, finishing up a seven-game road jaunt through Pittsburgh and our nation’s capital. So far, it’s been a mostly disappointing trip, thanks in part to a bullpen implosion on Wednesday.

What can the Colorado Rockies do to get back to the .500 mark, and how big of a role will the bullpen play in that journey? We discuss those topics and more on our latest Rockies-focused podcast.

In this episode of the Rox Pile Rockies Report podcast, let’s talk about the Colorado Rockies bullpen and the start to the June schedule.

Entering the series against the Nationals, Colorado’s bullpen has posted a 5.09 ERA this season, which ranks last in all of Major League Baseball. The Rockies are the only MLB team with a bullpen ERA over 5, and that number certainly escalated after Colorado’s 10-5 loss in the series finale in Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon. Colorado starter Ryan Feltner allowed two runs in his five innings of work, but four Rockies relievers combined to surrender eight runs over the final three frames, including a game-tying three-run home run given up by Carlos Estévez and an eventual game-winning three-run shot off the bat of Pittsburgh’s Jack Suwinski given up by Justin Lawrence.

What’s the answer for a bullpen that has seen mostly solid performances from Tyler Kinley and Daniel Bard, but spotty time on the mound outside of that? We talk about the options.

Additionally, we take a peek ahead to the June schedule and wonder aloud about what will happen to Colorado’s record with series in June at home against defending World Champion Atlanta, then on the road against division foes San Francisco (three games) and San Diego (four games). Can the Rockies right the ship and make sure this stretch doesn’t keep them from staying in postseason contention? We talk about the importance of this June run.

You can listen to our latest podcast by clicking here, or simply clicking on the play button below.