SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If the Colorado Rockies are going to avoid a third straight season of losing 100-plus games in 2025, improvement on the mound is a must.

Colorado’s pitching last season from an earned run average (ERA) perspective was the worst in Major League Baseball, coming in at a combined 5.47. Before you shrug it off to being Coors Field, note this: That number was also the seventh-highest in franchise history dating back to 1993.

Whether it was from the starters (5.54 ERA, highest in MLB) or relievers (5.38, highest in MLB along with 28 blown saves, tied for the second-most in MLB), the pitching was a disaster in 2024. A dead-last 84 in MLB team ERA+ (with 101 seen as the league average in 2024) illustrates the below-average status of Rockies pitching last season.

To change their fortunes on the mound, Colorado is counting on not only improved depth, but also new faces to help turn the tide. With those changes coming together, Rockies manager Bud Black saw encouraging signs during spring.

“I’ve seen probably 90% of the pitches,” Black said, adding split-squad games and minor league games count against that number. “I’ve seen a lot of pitches this spring, so what leads me to believe it’s better is the quality of pitches that I’ve seen in this camp. It’s pretty good, as opposed to last year. With that, I think we’re going to be better, if we carry that over into the season.”

And that is a big “if,” but there are reasons for optimism.

Starting rotation

Cal Quantrill and Dakota Hudson, members of the 2024 opening day roster, are gone and replaced on this year’s opening day roster by familiar faces in Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez, both of whom were injured at the start of last season. Austin Gomber, when he returns to the rotation likely in early April, will give the Rockies five arms that are familiar with what it takes to pitch and succeed at elevation.

Kyle Freeland, Marquez and Senzatela have been the core of the rotation since Colorado’s postseason run in 2017. Black is expecting them to help right the ship on the mound this year.

“In 2017, Freeland, Marquez, and Senzatela were rookie pitchers,” Black said. “They’ve all changed in a lot of ways. As a pitcher, you make adjustments. All of them now have been through different types of injuries, and I think they’re ready to get back on the horse and be major contributors again as starting pitchers.”

If any of those arms falter early in the season, Black and general manager Bill Schmidt have made it clear the next generation of Colorado starters, headlined by top prospect Chase Dollander, will be given its chance.

“Whether it’s Gabriel Hughes, Dollander, (Carson) Palmquist, (Sean) Sullivan, and the relievers, the talent level has risen, so that’s encouraging,” Black said.

Relievers

Colorado’s bullpen has undergone a major facelift with veterans Scott Alexander and Jimmy Herget signed in the offseason to bring not only talent, but also a presence to a bullpen that will be sprinkled with youth.

The young faces to watch in terms of progression from last season to this season include 25-year-olds Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik, both of whom will compete for closing duties after earning save chances last season.

“A lot of times, younger players can get emotional and ride that rollercoaster of performance, whether it’s good or bad,” Black said. “A level-headed veteran is much-needed for me to be a model for young players. They can have that wisdom and those words to help their younger teammates.”

Another veteran to watch in the bullpen this year is Tyler Kinley, who allowed just one hit and struck out 10 through his first 6.1 scoreless innings this spring. The 34-year-old right-hander is coming off a season with a 6.19 ERA in 64.0 innings but has incorporated a curveball into his pitch mix with encouraging results.

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Where Rockies pitching failed in 2024

In all, Rockies pitchers in 2024 struck out 1,118 batters while walking 563, the fewest strikeouts and the fourth-most walks in MLB.

Those 1,118 strikeouts were Colorado’s fewest in a full season since striking out 1,112 in 2015.

Opposing hitters slashed .285/.354/.468 (.822 OPS) with 221 home runs against Rockies pitching last season, the highest mark in MLB in each of those categories.

Rockies pitchers allowed a 40.6 hard-hit percentage (third-highest in MLB), an 89.4 MPH average exit velocity (tied for second-highest in MLB) and a .355 wOBA (weighted on-base percentage, highest in MLB).