The Colorado Rockies’ starting rotation is in disarray. Since the All-Star break, the group has posted an 8.02 ERA across 83 innings pitched in 18 games, per Statmuse. The struggles came to a head when the Toronto Blue Jays came into Colorado and scored 45 runs across three games in a dominant sweep. The unit started the season strong and got much-needed reinforcements this year in righties Antonio Senzatela and Germán Márquez. But things have not gone as planned. The unit has largely struggled in a difficult 30-84 campaign in Colorado.
Rockies Rotation in Dire Straits as Season Hits Last Leg
Not Partying Like 2018
Three-fifths of the Rockies’ 2018 postseason rotation still dons the purple. But this has not been a “Boys Are Back in Town” season in Colorado. The offseason is always a time for hope and dreaming. After Márquez and Senzatela played a combined 10 games in 2023-24 due to serious injuries, they were finally back. Ideally, both pitchers would get a full spring training and help reinforce a beleaguered starting rotation.
The early signs were good. Both pitchers made it out of the spring healthy, which was the main concern. Senzatela was arguably the Rockies’ best pitcher in Cactus League play, posting a 1.21 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 22 1/3 IP. It sparked hope that the rotation could be solid this season, supplemented by a lineup with some budding offensive stars. That sentence is laughable after the 8-46 start to the season. But that was the hope! Instead, Senzatela served as the perfect litmus test for why there should never be too much stock taken in spring training.
Senzatela somehow managed to not allow an earned run in his first two starts, despite giving up 19 hits in 9 2/3 IP. But the dam broke in his third start when he allowed eight earned runs in 4 1/3 IP as part of a 17-2 thrashing by the Milwaukee Brewers. He has largely struggled all season. His 7.34 ERA and -1.2 WAR are both career worsts. One of Senzatela’s best seasons came in 2021 when he posted a 4.42 ERA, allowing 178 hits and 77 earned runs in 156 2/3 IP. In just 103 innings this season, he has already allowed 159 hits and 84 earned runs. Per Baseball Reference, Senzatela is last in Major League Baseball among qualified pitchers in losses (14), hits (159), and earned runs (84).
Possible End of an Era in Colorado
Senzatela has not resembled the pitcher he was before his injury. To rub salt in the wound, he hit the 15-day IL on August 2 due to a right middle finger blister after allowing eight earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Márquez has been much better and has shown glimpses of the excellent starting pitcher he was for the Rockies from 2018 to 2021. In six June starts, he posted a 2.97 ERA with 29 strikeouts to eight walks in 30 1/3 innings. Which led to him generating trade interest as the deadline approached.
PIT – Oneil Cruz Grand Slam (18)
Distance: 451 ft
EV: 114.7 mph
LA: 22°
81.2 mph curveball (COL – RHP Antonio Senzatela)
Would be out in 30/30 MLB parks
PIT (5) @ COL (0)
1st#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/QtkFSXmtRv
— MLB Home Runs
(@MLBHRs_) August 2, 2025
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But in a Murphy’s Law season for the Rockies, Márquez hit the 15-day IL shortly before the deadline, and the club was unable to move him. Márquez pitched a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday. But he is not expected to return to the rotation until August 26, per RotoWire. Injuries are always the worst part of sports, and it’s a major accomplishment for both pitchers to even be back in Major League Baseball after almost two full seasons away. But it is clearer than ever that the Rockies’ rotation is a long way from 2018. With Senzatela struggling mightily and Márquez hitting free agency this offseason, these two long-term Rockies could be pitching their last couple of months in Colorado.
Rotation Depth Has Again Been Exposed
A theme of the Rockies’ recent seasons has been the rotation imploding when injuries hit. Routine fill-in starter Ty Blach gathered 25 starts the past two seasons due to the many injuries. This year has been no different. But Blach is not around anymore. Eleven different pitchers have started games for the Rockies this season. Left-hander Austin Gomber, one of their most reliable starters last season, didn’t make his season debut until June 15 due to an injury he suffered in spring training. This, in turn, opened the door for No. 1 prospect, right-hander Chase Dollander, to start the season with the Rockies. Dollander showed some impressive flashes for Colorado, but still needed to develop some aspects of his game and was sent down following a start against the Chicago White Sox on July 6.
RHP Ryan Feltner entered 2025 with arguably the most momentum of any Rockies pitcher after a stellar second half last season. Feltner began this season with more effective play, but did not make it out of April before hitting the 60-day IL with back spasms. He was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on July 4, but stayed with Triple-A Albuquerque to continue rehabbing. He was placed on the 7-day IL on July 30. But the Rockies could use Feltner’s services again soon. After the top six pitchers in the Rockies’ rotation, they have to dip into their farm. It is comprised of pitchers that have potential, but are still not quite ready for consistent major league starts.
The Other Guys
RHP Bradley Blalock was right there with Senzatela when it came to his effectiveness in spring training. In 17 2/3 IP, Blalock posted a 1.02 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with a 10.2 K/9. However, like Senzatela, his spring performance did not carry over to the regular season. In the penultimate game of Bud Black‘s tenure as the Rockies’ manager, Blalock surrendered 12 earned runs on 13 hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 21-0 loss to the San Diego Padres on May 10.
He did pitch much better in July, posting a 1.59 ERA with eight strikeouts to one walk over 17 IP. These were crucial starts to give the Rockies’ bullpen some much-needed rest. But Blalock began August on a rough note, giving up seven earned runs across 5 2/3 IP in a 9-5 loss to the Pirates. He will likely continue to see some starts with Senzatela and Márquez on the IL.
LHP Carson Palmquist had solid moments in the minors but has failed to establish a foothold in the majors. In seven starts this season, he has only gone five or more innings once. Palmquist was optioned to the minors on Wednesday. RHP Tanner Gordon came over as a prospect in a trade with the Atlanta Braves in 2023. He picked up an impressive win against the New York Yankees in his second start this season, allowing only two earned runs in six innings.
But in his last 5 2/3 IP in starts against the Cleveland Guardians and the Blue Jays, he has given up 13 earned runs. RHP Anthony Molina, in a spot start on Tuesday against Toronto, became the first pitcher to allow five home runs in a 10-4 loss. The Rockies have holes all over the roster, which is why they are 30-84. But their starting rotation has been leaking oil for a while now. The Blue Jays just came into town and turned that leak into a spill.
Questions Face Rotation in Offseason
There will be a lot of questions facing the Rockies this offseason. But after finally appearing to embrace a rebuild at the deadline, what will the rotation look like next season? There is a major question mark surrounding Márquez’s future with the Rockies. He has been a Rockie for the entirety of his career and is one of their best starters this season. But the team’s rebuild doesn’t line up with his timeline. In his age-30 season, it would not be surprising to see Márquez try to sign with a contending team as he begins the latter half of his career.
Senzatela is under contract next season and will be difficult to move. But will his poor play cause the Rockies to eat the remainder of his contract? LHP Kyle Freeland is in his age-32 season and has been with the Rockies since his debut season in 2017. He is due to earn $16 million next season with a vesting option for 2027. Freeland is a Denver native and has often been the lifeblood of the Rockies in his career. He has struggled this season after a solid second half last season. But it would not be surprising to see Freeland play another year in Denver for his hometown team and continue to be a clubhouse leader for the young Rockies.
Gomber will enter unrestricted free agency after this season, during which he will be 32. He has posted a 6.18 ERA in 43 2/3 IP this season, after a solid season last year. The Rockies shopped Gomber last offseason and again at the deadline to no success. It would be a surprise to see Gomber return to the Rockies for a sixth season with the club. Feltner and Dollander will assuredly be in the Rockies’ rotation next season, barring injury. LHP Sean Sullivan and RHP Gabriel Hughes, top 15 prospects in the Rockies system, are projected to debut next season. Facing several questions, it will be an intriguing offseason to follow the state of the Rockies’ rotation.
Main Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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