Rockies avoid MLB history in 2-1 series loss to Atlanta
The Colorado Rockies came one run away from tying MLB history with the worst start to a season through 30 games. They nearly matched the 1988 Baltimore Orioles’ 4-26 start, after going on a bizarre 21 game losing streak to start the year. Thankfully, a Chase Dollander gem and Brenton Doyle homer advances them 5-25.
Coming off back-to-back sweeps from the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, Coors Field greeted the Atlanta Braves on Monday, April 28. Colorado had an offensive stall but another solid effort by the bullpen in the game one 6-3 loss. In the bottom of the first, Hunter Goodman hit a three-run homer to set the tone, but the lineup wouldn’t score once for the rest of the night.
Ryan Feltner, who has sorely grown into the Rox most trustworthy arm, soiled his start by allowing five runs across innings three, four and five. That brought his earned run average (ERA) to 4.75, which is sadly acceptable for the state of the Rockies starting pitching rotation.
Germán Márquez, who started terrific after returning from missing two years due to injury, has gone on the worst skid of his career and got the nod in game two. He allowed seven runs, which brought him to 28 across his last five starts. He’s on the longest pitching losing streak of his life, bringing Tuesday’s start to five.
The Rockies lost game two 8-2, but Micheal Toglia continued his bender with a homer in the second. In the first 16 games of him being in the lineup, he jotted one run batted in (RBI) with a .167 batting average. From that point, he’s increased his average by .119 points, his on-base percentage by .120 points and his slugging percentage by a tremendous .307 points. He’s added three home runs and 12 RBIs.
The series finale had the stars aligned for Colorado to get blasted against the Braves and their reigning Cy Young, Chris Sale to tie the major league record. Bud Black sent out 23-year-old Chase Dollander brave-faced to try and snap the Rockies eight-game losing streak.
“Chase is built the right way,” Black said after his one-run showing over five innings. “Going up against Chris Sale … he basically outdueled him.”
Colorado’s four pitchers in game three only gave up one run against the perilous Atlanta lineup, whose gotten off to a rough start in 2025 but are still a playoff team when push comes to shove. They only allowed three hits along the way and Brenton Doyle’s fourth homer of the year in the third inning put the Rox on top 2-1, which they’d hold onto for the rest of the game.
Although the Rox avoid the sweep, team-veteran Ryan McMahon is on the largest hitless streak in organization history, currently not getting a hit in his last 34 at bats. He broke Desi Relaford’s 33 at-bat skid in the summer of 2005.
Although they evaded the historically bad MLB record of worst start through 30 games, the Rockies need to get at least two wins in their next 10 games against lethal opponents to bypass the worst record through 40 games. Colorado’s next three series are against the 19-12 San Francisco Giants, the 19-12 Detroit Tigers and the 19-11 San Diego Padres.
Colorado begins their treacherous month of May against National League West rival San Francisco Giants on Thursday, May 1. First pitch of game one is at 7:45 p.m. MT.