Colorado Rockies: How long will they stick with Carlos Estévez?

How many more appearances do the Colorado Rockies need to see before they finally say, enough is enough? There are five-plus seasons of proof that right-handed reliever Carlos Estévez is not effective at the MLB level and it is time for him to go.

Friday night, the Atlanta Braves and the Rockies were deadlocked in a heated pitcher’s duel tied at zero heading into extra innings. With the bases loaded, one out, and an 0-2 count, Estévez threw his second wild pitch of the inning over the head of Elias Diaz (a pitch that would only make Ricky “the Wild Thing” Vaughn proud, who is portrayed by Charlie Sheen, who’s birth name just happens to be Carlos Estévez) allowing the go-ahead run to score.

The Braves would go on to score three runs in the inning as they would go on to a 3-1 victory.  The 29-year-old Estevez was credited with the loss after going 0.2 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on no hits, two walks, a hit batter, and an intentional walk with a strikeout.  It’s the fourth time in his last 10 outings in which he has given up at least two earned runs.

How long will the Colorado Rockies stick with reliever Carlos Estévez?

Friday’s loss lowered Carlos Estévez’s record to 1-2 with a blown save, with a robust 6.32 ERA (6.59 FIP) in 19 appearances in 15.2 innings of work for the Colorado Rockies in 2022.

The issue here is that Friday night’s results from Estévez have become very predictable. For his career, he has a 4.94 ERA (4.38 FIP) in 278 games with a 1.469 WHIP. He had a respectable 2021 campaign but he has been consistently bad throughout his MLB career.

It is difficult for the Rockies front office to let go of a reliever who throws a fastball in the high-90s, but when that fastball has little movement and finds itself either in the middle of the plate or at the backstop it is time to move on.

The lack of bullpen depth especially in the minors does make the decision even more complicated but as long as Carlos Estévez continues to get beat up, keeping him on the roster is not an option.

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