After getting swept by the Braves at Coors Field<\/a> over the weekend, the Rockies were 14-21 entering Monday\u2019s game against the Mets. Not great, certainly, but significantly better than last season when they were 6-29 after 35 games.\n<\/p>\n The following are highlights from DePodesta\u2019s session with the Rockies media:<\/p>\n Assessment of the three veteran free-agent pitchers<\/p>\n Colorado signed right-handers Tomoyuki Sugano and Michael Lorenzen, and lefty Jose Quintana for a combined $18.85 million to stabilize a rotation that posted a 6.65 ERA last season, the worst since ERA became an official statistic in 1913.<\/a> Entering Monday\u2019s game, Colorado starters had a 4.81 ERA, though over the last 15 games, it was 3.97.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think by and large, probably the most consistent thing over the first month has been our pitching,\u201d DePodesta said. \u201cI mean, our pitching is giving us a chance to win virtually every night. Every team will have a bad start here and there, but for the most part, they\u2019re giving us a chance to win. And I think those three guys have been central to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Using an \u2018opener\u2019 in the first inning ahead of Dollander<\/p>\n Right-hander Chase Dollander is off to an excellent start, despite his hiccup on Saturday night <\/a>in Colorado\u2019s 9-1 loss to Atlanta. After eight games, including one official start, Dollander is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He\u2019s struck out 42, walked just 12, and has a 1.15 WHIP.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s actually about trying to get him as much length as possible in a game,\u201d DePodesta said. \u201cSo it\u2019s not so much about having him avoid certain hitters, because he\u2019s been pretty good against the top of the lineup. We think he certainly has stuff that will play the third time through a lineup.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think at least initially, this was about trying to, sort of, lengthen him out as much as we possibly could.\u201d<\/p>\n Left-hander Brennan Bernardino started ahead of Dollander in Saturday\u2019s game and gave up hits to the first three Atlanta batters, including Drake Baldwin\u2019s two-run homer. It\u2019s an extremely small sample size, but openers have a combined 10.80 ERA (5.0 innings pitched, six earned runs), and Colorado\u2019s record when they used an opener is 1-5.\n<\/p>\n Faith in slumping outfielders Beck and Doyle<\/p>\n Jordan Beck entered Monday\u2019s game hitting .167 with a .469 OPS and one home run. Brenton Doyle was hitting .213 with a .567 OPS and one homer.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, we don\u2019t want to be reactionary,\u201d DePodesta said. \u201cWe also don\u2019t want our players thinking that, \u2018Boy, if they 0 for 4 tonight, they\u2019re not in the lineup tomorrow.\u2019 Or worse, they\u2019re going to Triple-A tomorrow, right? Or if they give up a run, or something like that. We believe in these guys. We also believe in a lot of the guys we have in Triple-A right now, but we want to give them ample opportunity to play.\u201d<\/p>\n The chance of calling up prospects Condon and Carrigg\u00a0<\/p>\n Cole Carrigg, who plays both infield and outfield, was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week on Monday after going 9 for 13 with two doubles, one triple, one homer, and seven RBIs over three games. He\u2019s riding a PCL-best 13-game hitting streak, during which he slashed .521\/.574\/.729 with three doubles, two triples, one home run, 14 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.\n<\/p>\n
![\"Mickey](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TDP-L-ROCKIESPADRESHJD00536.jpg\")
Mickey Moniak, left fielder for the Colorado Rockies, rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a game against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Harmon Dobson\/The Denver Post)