The Mariners are heading to Colorado this weekend to face the Rockies in a series that comes with very different stakes for both clubs. For Seattle, this is part of the late-season stretch in which the team is effectively playing out the schedule. For Colorado, it is another step in a long rebuilding cycle that has been going on for years.
The timing also says a lot about where both teams are right now. The Mariners last played irrelevant games this early in September during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, while the Rockies are still trying to dig out of a stretch that included 119 losses last year and a leadership change that brought in Paul DePodesta.
What to know about the Rockies
Colorado’s recent history has been rough, even by rebuilding standards. The Rockies last truly looked competitive in 2018, when they won 91 games. Since then, the results have swung hard in the other direction, and the organization is still trying to find its footing.
The roster does have some young names worth watching. Hunter Goodman, TJ Rumfield, Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros are part of the group that gives Colorado a little more long-term hope, even if the present remains difficult. Gabriel Hughes also made his debut in July, adding another name to the mix as the club looks ahead.
Friday’s pitching picture
The biggest immediate question for the series is Friday’s game, where the Rockies did not have a starter listed at the time of publication. Ryan Feltner is expected to handle some bulk innings, which fits the way Colorado has had to manage games while navigating injuries, depth issues and the realities of pitching at Coors Field.
Feltner’s 2024 season provides at least a baseline for that assignment. He posted a 4.49 ERA and a 4.16 FIP in 30 starts, and he recently gave the Rockies a useful relief outing on Tuesday when he came in behind Kyle Freeland and threw five shutout innings against the Padres.
That kind of flexibility matters in Colorado more than most places. Pitching in Colorado remains the toughest pitching environment in baseball, with Coors Field boosting offense to ridiculous levels. That makes bulk innings and matchup management especially important, and it also explains why the Rockies continue to search for workable answers as they move through the season.
For the Mariners, the series is a reminder of the calendar more than the standings. For the Rockies, it is another chance to evaluate arms, look at young hitters and keep building toward something more stable than what the last several seasons have offered.
