On Wednesday when the Rockies wrap up their three-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field, it will mark Colorado’s 81st game of the season.

Preparing to hit the middle of a 162-game schedule in a year when the Rockies are trying to shake off the ghosts of last year’s 119-loss season, has Colorado truly improved this season?

The answers from manager Warren Schaeffer and general manager Josh Byrnes on Monday were a “yes” — with an asterisk.

Colorado has won seven series already this season as part of their 30 wins heading into Monday night’s game. Last year, the Rockies won only two before the All-Star break.

Their 30th win this season came on June 20. Last season, the 30th victory didn’t appear until Aug. 2, pushing them to 30-80 on the campaign.

Colorado Rockies center fielder Cole Carrigg (16) in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Little things are also showing up in the box score as well. Away from Denver this season, the Rockies are putting up runs in a way not seen in two decades. Colorado has scored at least four runs in nine consecutive road games since June 1, the second-longest single-season streak in franchise history, topped by only a 10-game run in April 2006.

Scoring runs is great but, on the flip side, the other team is scoring runs against the Rockies at a head-shaking rate as well. Over the last 30 days heading into Monday, Colorado’s combined ERA was 6.88, the worst in baseball.

“I think the game is scoring runs and preventing runs. In April, we were probably better at preventing than scoring and in June we’ve been better at scoring than preventing,” Byrnes said. “I think pitching is always going to be a challenge here when it’s tested over six months. It’s our daily ritual to see who’s available and who’s not.

“It’s been done here before, but we’d like to build a playoff-caliber and hopefully sustainable (roster) for several years. And not just the players, but the methods behind it.”

Schaeffer agreed.

“There have been a lot of things pitching-wise that we have driven forward,” Schaeffer said. “I know we are not winning as many games as we would like. I understand that, but the wins are starting to come and I think that’s a byproduct of everything else. The way we’ve been going about our business is a high level of commitment to elevate this organization.”

Some of the successes through the first half of the season include a pair of newcomers to the team in outfielder Jake McCarthy and first baseman TJ Rumfield. McCarthy entered Monday with a 10-game hitting streak and Rumfield’s 12 home runs are the fourth-most by a Colorado rookie prior to the All-Star break.

Colorado Rockies right fielder Jake McCarthy (31) is congratulated as he returns to the dugout aftr hitting an inside-the-park home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

“I think part of what makes him (Rumfield) really good, and we probably didn’t know this until after we got him (in a trade with the New York Yankees), I think he’s just a creative hitter who can really compete against a variety of Major League arms,” Byrnes said. “Defensively, he’s been very good as well.”

The first half of the season has also brought disappointments. Among them, Colorado’s veteran-led rotation has scuffled with injuries and inconsistency. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has taken a step back at the plate, with his 62.2% swing percentage being the highest among any MLB qualified batter and his 28.5% strikeout rate well above the MLB average of 22.4 percent.

Outfielders Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck have also struggled at the plate, with the currently injured duo relegated to mostly platoon duty before their injuries in May.

There is a lot for the Rockies to improve upon moving forward, Byrnes said. There will also be plenty of personnel decisions to be made as the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline approaches. However, even with the uncertainty that may hover at that time, Byrnes is staying honest in the moment and seeing the progress being made.

“I think we still have a long way to go,” Byrnes said. “I think we always have to maintain our standards as we climb out of this thing. I’m really encouraged by the effort level and how much guys want to be better individually and as a team. We just have to maintain what we’re really after, which is winning games and playing in October.

“We don’t want to be delusional. We still have a ways to go, but I’m encouraged by the progress.”