Winning Small

Through the first 15 games the Rockies have only been able to score more than 4 runs 6 times, and have lost 2 of those games.   On the other hand their opponent has only scored more than 4 runs 6 times, and the Rockies have lost all 6 of  those games.  The surprising stat is that the Rockies have held their opponents to less than 5 runs 9 times and they are 8-1 in those games losing only to Atlanta 4-0 this past Sunday.  The pitching has contributed the way the Rockies set it up, with very few bad starts.  Jon Gray and Tyler Anderson came out of the gate going a combined 6 1/3 innings and giving up 10 runs between them.    Since then the Rockies Starters have averaged 5.41 innings per start which has alleviated the load on the bullpen early. 

QUIRKS OF THE SCHEDULE:   The new Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for 4 more off days per season, which is why the season started on a Thursday this year.  The Rockies have only had one scheduled off day, April 1st after playing an excruciating three game set in Arizona.   They are now in the midst of a 17 day game schedule before having their 2nd off day next Thursday, which will be the longest stretch they play all season with another 17 day stretch in July and August Meanwhile, the Giants, Dodgers, D-Backs  will have 3 days off from April 2nd through 18th.  The Padres are also playing 17 straight, including 7 of them against the Rockies.   The Rockies will have 3 total off days in April, 5 in May, 3 in June,  4 in July (not including the All-Star Break), 3 in August, and only 2 in September.  This means they only have 5 days off after July 26th, playing 61 games in that span. The Padres have 5 in September alone. All four of the other NL West teams have 8 days off after July 26th. 

QUICK START: In 2017 the Rockies got out to a 10-5 record in their first 15 but were tied with the D-Backs at that point.  This year the D-Backs have jumped out to a 10-3 record and are in first by themselves.