On September 2, the Rockies clinched their third straight 100+ loss season with a 7-4 loss against the San Francisco Giants. The main culprit for that record? The Rockies’ much-maligned starting rotation. Per EV Analytics, the Rockies’ starting rotation ranks last in Major League Baseball with a 4.93 ERA. Remarkably, the Rockies’ bullpen has continued to perform well. Considering the sheer number of innings the unit has had to pick up this season. But 27-year-old right-hander Tanner Gordon is doing his part to give the bullpen some rest.
Tanner Gordon Taking Advantage of Opportunity
As the Rockies embrace a youth movement, questions are emerging about the future of the Rockies’ rotation. RHP Germán Márquez is in his age-30 season and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. LHP Austin Gomber was released in August. It also appears unlikely that RHP Antonio Senzatela will make his way back to the rotation after being moved to the bullpen.
Gordon was part of the Pierce Johnson trade in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves. A trade that is aging nicely for Colorado. The Rockies traded a 32-year-old aging reliever who had posted a 6.00 ERA in Colorado. For a starting pitcher in Gordon who is beginning to emerge. Along with right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik, who is one of the Rockies’ top relievers.
It appeared that Vodnik might be the only bright spot in that trade following the 2024 season. Gordon looked like yet another young pitcher who had fallen victim to the immense difficulty of pitching at Coors Field. In eight starts last season, Gordon posted an 8.65 ERA in 34 1/3 innings pitched, resulting in a -1.1 WAR. But when Chase Dollander hit the injured list in late May with right forearm tightness, Gordon got another opportunity to prove his worth.
Persevering Through Adversity
Gordon filled in on May 8 for a start against the Detroit Tigers in a doubleheader. He allowed seven runs but just four earned in 6 1/3 IP in an 11-1 Rockies’ loss. This was in the midst of the Rockies’ horrid 8-46 stretch in April/May. But one of those eight wins came in Gordon’s next start. Facing the New York Yankees at Coors Field on May 23, Gordon was stellar. He allowed just two earned runs on five hits in six innings with five Ks to two BBs in a 3-2 Rockies’ win.
In his next start against the Chicago Cubs, Gordon lasted only 4 2/3 but did allow just two earned runs. However, Gordon hit an immediate speed bump, going on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain. He did not start again for two months. But in his return against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 23, Gordon was again excellent at Coors Field. Pitching six shutout innings with just four hits allowed in a 6-0 Rockies win. Gordon would stay healthy this time, but the worst stretch of the season followed.
In three starts from July 29 to August 10, Gordon allowed 23 earned runs in just 10 1/3 IP. He posted a 9-2 K: BB ratio during this stretch, but was shelled for 31 hits. Gordon relies mainly on a four-seam fastball that averages 92.2 mph. Followed by a slider and a changeup that average 84.3 and 83.2 mph, respectively. In these three starts, none of Gordon’s arsenal was working. His ERA skyrocketed from 3.13 to 8.37. But Gordon did not allow this three-game stretch to define his season. Rockies’ pitchers are inevitably going to have stretches like this when dealing with the difficulties of pitching at altitude. The important thing is how they bounce back.
Gordon Experiencing Best Stretch of Career
In the finale of that three-game stretch, Gordon allowed a career-worst 10 earned runs on 12 hits in a 13-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 10. It was his third straight loss and his second straight start allowing double-digit hits and at least seven earned runs. For a player who is still just a bad start away from being sent down to the minors, that is a tough place to be. Up next were those same Diamondbacks five days later at Coors.
But this time, it was a totally different story. Gordon allowed just three earned runs on five hits in a 4-3 Rockies’ win. He would follow that bounce-back performance, allowing just four earned runs in 18 IP in the Rockies’ wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and Cubs. His record on the season now sits at 5-5 with four of those wins coming at Coors. He has shaved nearly two and a half runs off his ERA, which now sits at 6.07. His five wins lead the Rockies, which exposes the sad state of the Rockies’ rotation, but still! He is also tied for second with Márquez on the Rockies with five quality starts, behind only Kyle Freeland‘s 11.
Gordon has found his groove for the Rockies at a time when they sorely need it. The Rockies are 3-12 in their past 15 games. The common theme in all three wins? Gordon was starting on the bump. He has become a stopper for the Rockies. His next opportunity comes on Sunday at Coors when he faces Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres.
Gordon showed great resilience following the worst stretch of his career with his best. Showing that he has what it takes to survive as a pitcher who calls Coors home. The Rockies will have opportunities available in their starting rotation next season. Gordon is making a strong push for one of those spots, and he isn’t done yet!
Main Photo Credits: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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