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The Colorado Rockies were the victims of their own subpar pitching in 2022. The NL West team had a cumulative ERA of 5.06, a number higher than any other team in the MLB.
Coors Field, where the Rockies play, has a higher altitude than any other park in the league. As such, the thin air causes balls that can be caught in the outfield elsewhere to sail into the stands.
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"Billy, this is Colorado Rockies GM Bill Schmidt. He recently said the Rockies are “done making moves” this offseason. The only problem is that the Rockies lost 94 games in 2022 and have literally made zero productive moves this offseason." - @ MLB Deadline News
With a record of 68-94, the Colorado Rockies finished last in their division in 2022. Although their offense was a challenge, pitching was really what laid any hopes of contending to sleep. The Rockies have not finished a season above .500 since 2018.
The top of the Colorado Rockies' pitching rotation is comprised of starters German Marquez, Kyle Freeland, and Jose Urena. If the Rockies want to have even the slightest chance of competing against rotations like the Los Angeles Dodgers, all three of these men will need to be better.
German Marquez is a Venezuelan right-hander who has been a starter for the Rockies since 2017. He reached his peak performance with the Rockies in 2018, posting an ERA of 3.77 across 33 starts. Marquez had the worst outing of his career in 2022, posting a career-worst ERA of 4.95.
"Luke Voit (6) Pitcher: German Marquez. Distance: 438 feet. Date: 6/12/22" - @ Padres Home Runs
Kyle Freeland was the second arm in the Rockies' 2022 rotation. Freeland, 6'4, had his best season alongside Marquez in 2018. That year, he compiled a record of 17-7 with an ERA of 2.85 over 33 starts. In 2022, Freeland amassed an ERA of 4.53 in 31 starts with the Rockies.
Jose Urena is the final arm in the Rockies' pitching tandem. The former Miami Marlins right-hander has evidently struggled since joining the Rockies last year. He posted an ERA of 5.14 and only managed to register 60 strikeouts over 89.1 innings pitched.
The Rockies' top arms have not had a good season since 2018. Coincidentally, that was the last year that the Colorado Rockies made the playoffs. 2022 saw a resurgence of the San Diego Padres, further complicating the NL West.
If the Colorado Rockies want any chance at winning, the pitchers will need to step up. Marquez, Freeland, and Urena were responsible for over a third of the team's losses in 2022. If these men do not find a way to control the offensive damage, then their team has a moot chance of going anywhere in 2023.
The Colorado Rockies likely face a harsh season ahead
The NL West is one of the best pitching divisions in all of baseball. Moreover, it features teams that can punish you offensively if your starting pitching is not up to scratch. All three of the Rockies' top starters will need to have their best seasons in years for anything to go right for their team this year.
