{"id":683024,"date":"2026-04-26T04:57:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T04:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/683024\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T04:57:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T04:57:38","slug":"rockies-finally-get-breakthrough-from-key-offseason-addition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/683024\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockies Finally Get Breakthrough From Key Offseason Addition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Entering Friday night\u2019s contest against the New York Mets, the Colorado Rockies<\/a> were in desperate need of some stellar starting pitching. <\/p>\n

For the better part of the first month of the season, the starting rotation had been the definitive weak point of the team, with Michael Lorenzen<\/a>, who was acquired over the offseason via free agency, struggling more than others. <\/p>\n

Luckily for him and the Rockies, a bounce-back opportunity against the flailing Mets presented itself, and all Lorenzen had to do was take advantage of it.<\/p>\n

And take advantage of it he did.<\/p>\n

Michael Lorenzen against the Mets:<\/p>\n

7 IP
7 H
1 ER
0 BB
3 K<\/p>\n

He had a 7.48 ERA entering tonight \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/ZPaM8jcLEh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) April 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Over the course of seven stellar innings, Lorenzen flummoxed a Mets lineup that\u2019s been searching for answers seemingly since the dawn of time. While he only recorded three strikeouts, he didn\u2019t surrender any free passes and scattered seven hits. <\/p>\n

In the end, he left the game allowing only one tally on the scoreboard, a large improvement over what he\u2019d been doing over his past five starts.<\/p>\n

As a result of Lorenzen\u2019s dominance, the Rockies were able to capture a series-opening 4-3 victory over the Mets at Citi Field, bringing their record to 11-16. While that mark might not be glamorous for some fanbases, it\u2019s welcome in Denver \u2014 and for Lorenzen.<\/p>\n

Lorenzen\u2019s Outing Offers Much-Needed Glimpse of Stability\"Colorado<\/p>\n

Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

To punctuate just how badly Lorenzen needed an effort like he had last night, all one has to do is look at how drastically his ERA dipped following the start. Coming into the game, he had put up an abysmal 7.48 ERA, which was the result of two disastrous starts \u2014 one versus the Philadelphia Phillies on April 3 and the other against the Houston Astros on April 14. <\/p>\n

His ERA is now at a more respectable 5.97. Not great by any means, but much better than where it once was.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been said ad nauseam ever since he arrived at Coors Field over the winter, but if the Rockies are going to do any sort of winning<\/a> during the 2026 campaign, Lorenzen\u2019s arm is going to be a major reason why. <\/p>\n

His excellence in past seasons was why first-year president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta considered him worthy of a contract. The lack of production through the first month was somewhat shocking \u2014 especially after one considers just how lights-out Lorenzen was for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic \u2014 but it\u2019s outings like the one he put up against the Mets last night that illustrate just how much potential he truly has.<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s just one start. There\u2019s every possibility in the world that he could lay another egg his next go-around on the bump. But given how bad the season commenced for Lorenzen, any glimmer of hope is welcome.<\/p>\n

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