Keys to victory
Follow Rodgers’ lead:
Brendan Rodgers, the third overall draft pick in 2015, has been limited by injuries as he tries to live up to his full potential. Rodgers has played in 285 games over the past three seasons, including just 46 in 2023, after he had shoulder surgery. Rodgers looks healthy. He is set to hit cleanup and could set the tone for a lineup that relied far too heavily on home runs in 2023 and struck out 1,543 times, most in the NL. Colorado also walked 447 times, third worst in the NL. Its other hitters would be well-served to emulate Rodgers, who relies more on doubles than homers. However, nearly everyone strikes out too much. Six Rockies had at least 110 whiffs last year, including key rebuilding pieces Nolan Jones, Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle.
competitively: The last two Rockies playoff teams (2017 and 2018) ranked in the top two in the NL in runs and around the middle of the pack in ERA. The Rockies had a league-worst 5.67 overall ERA. While pitching at Coors Field will never be easy, they could try challenging
Pitch
more hitters on the road, where they still walked 283 hitters, ninth most in the majors. Their road ERA was 5.18.
Win on the road: Colorado ranked last in batting average (.228) and had the second-most strikeouts (819) away from home, where it was a major league-worst 22-59. If Colorado’s young core becomes more patient at the plate, more road wins should come. Their development could also boost the team at home, where crowds always seem to come out in big numbers.
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