Rockies Turn a Corner in Pitching Debut
The Colorado Rockies dropped the first game of their three‑game series against the Washington Nationals 13‑3 on Monday, but they answered with a 3‑1 victory on Tuesday and a 13‑1 win on Wednesday before a 7‑1 loss on Thursday. The swing in results was anchored by the debut of right‑hander Mason Adams, who entered the rotation after the trade deadline and delivered a stellar four‑inning outing, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five.
Adams joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second Rockies starter in franchise history to post a debut stat line of one or fewer earned runs, three or fewer hits and five or more strikeouts, a feat previously achieved by Antonio Senzatela.
The offense surged with Hunter Goodman back from the injured list, launching homers in both games he played. His 36th home run of the season pushed his career total to 81, surpassing Chris Iannetta for the most by a primary catcher in Rockies history.
Goodman’s power has been a catalyst all season; he leads the league with 21 road homers and his long balls have lifted the Rockies to a 17‑11 record whenever he goes deep.
Backup catcher Brett Sullivan has also contributed, batting .253 with a .526 slugging percentage and 20 RBIs over his last 25 starts since June 11.
Meanwhile, Connor Norby, acquired from the Marlins, has reached base in all 15 games since joining Colorado, slashing .311/.415/.556 with five doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and nine runs scored.
Looking Ahead
Despite the recent uplift, the club is still flirting with a fourth straight 100‑loss season and must win 11 of their remaining 28 games to stay afloat. The schedule now takes them to Atlanta for a three‑game series at Truist Park before a six‑game homestand against the Orioles and Cardinals, a stretch that will test the depth of a pitching staff already short on high‑caliber starters.
With limited top‑tier prospects in the farm system, performances like Adams’ debut will be crucial for shaping the 2027 rotation and keeping hope alive for a turnaround.