Baseball returns to Coors Field on Friday afternoon. With its return not only comes a party-like atmosphere at 20^th and Blake, but also a sense of hope and optimism for what is to come.

After taking two of three in Toronto from the reigning American League champion Blue Jays, the Colorado Rockies will take the field on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 2-4 mark on the young season.

Capturing that series in Toronto erased some of the bitter taste from a sweep suffered in Miami to open the 2026 campaign. It also gave the Rockies a series win just six days into the season. Last year, as a point of comparison, the Rockies didn’t win a series until the 68^th day of the season.

After an off day on Thursday, the Rockies will begin what will be a challenging April home schedule. Opening Day kicks off a three-game series with the Phillies and will be followed by three games with the Houston Astros. Later in the month, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres make their way to Denver, giving the Rockies three postseason teams from 2025 at Coors Field this month (only the Astros didn’t make last year’s playoffs).

However, that’s a lookahead. For now, the focus is on Friday, the Phillies and some of the new features that will greet fans when they step through the Coors Field gates this year.

Rockies officials are expecting more than 100,000 fans to come to Coors Field this weekend, including an expected sellout of Friday’s home opener. The energy in the building will come after an offseason spent on making sure Coors Field lives up to its reputation as one of the best ballparks in Major League Baseball.

Opened in 1995, Coors Field is the third-oldest National League stadium, with only Wrigley Field (1914) and Dodger Stadium (1962) older. With the stadium more than 30 years old, keeping Coors Field updated and fresh is something that starts the day after the previous season’s last home game.

Kevin Kahn, Rockies senior vice president/chief customer officer, ballpark operations, said welcoming fans back to Coors Field on Friday is the end of an offseason journey that has included everything from refreshed food stands to the replacement and modernization of elevators and escalators.

“Opening Day is really hard to describe, but it’s the culmination of all the work that has been in the offseason to get us to that point,” Kahn said. “It’s also the energy of an opportunity for a new beginning and a good start. Walking in and seeing the sun and feeling the heat, you see the excitement in fans’ eyes when they come through the gate. It’s just an awesome day.”

Roster moves

On Thursday, the Rockies placed left-handed starting pitcher Jose Quintana on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to March 30) with a right hamstring strain. In his place, the Rockies recalled right-hander Valente Bellozo from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Signed as a free agent this offseason, Bellozo allowed five hits and three earned runs in his start for Albuquerque on March 28 in Oklahoma City.

Quintana was scheduled to start against Philadelphia on Saturday, but that spot may now be taken by Bellozo.

Additionally, infielder/outfielder Ryan Ritter was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, likely clearing a spot for outfielder Mickey Moniak to rejoin the team. Moniak has been sidelined with a right ring finger sprain suffered late in spring training.

Opening Day times to know

9 a.m. — Parking lots open

9 a.m. — Opening Day festivities begin at McGregor Square

11:15 a.m. — Rockies batting practice

noon — All gates open and 2026 magnet schedule giveaway begins

12:20 p.m. — Phillies batting practice

1:15 p.m. — Pregame ceremonies begin, including team introductions and a planned flyover conducted by the F-16 Fighting Falcons, flown by pilots of the 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard out of Buckley Space Force Base

2:10 p.m. — First pitch