Coming off a good series in Los Angeles (any winning series there is good), the Cardinals make their only 2026 trip into Denver this weekend for a three-game set. Grandkids will be in tow as I take in these games in person. The Rockies appear to be playing out the string, prepping more for next year than competing this year. But those pesky Cardinals won’t quite go away. If nothing else, this team has shown admiring resilience in the face of adversity. If playing meaningful games in September is instructive,
this team should learn a lot about itself. 21 games left. If they can torch the Dodgers the way they did at their place, anything can happen.
The venue
Can’t have a series in Denver without noting the unique park factors that influence the games played. Overall, Coors field adds about 12% more offense than the “average” park. For reference, the next most prolific offensive environment is Fenway Park, which adds 3%. Quite a jump to Coors. An interesting feature of the outfield is that it more the doubles the incidence of … triples, at 207 (100 is average).
Hard hit percentages, xwOBAcon and stuff are just above league average, so it’s not like anyone the ball harder, just that it travels farther (9% more homers) and bounces around a lot larger outfield (all those tripes and 24% more doubles).
The opponent
The Rockies stand at 54-86, second worst record in baseball (1 game better than the hapless Angels), hoping for another high, high draft pick. Not like many of the others have helped much. They need a different strategy. Run prevention is this team’s biggest flaw. Their main focus right now appears to be trying to avoid a fifth straight 100-loss season. In comparison, I feel spoiled being disappointed in a fourth straight non-playoff season.
They are coming off a series win against … the Orioles, who were coming off a good series against…the Cardinals.
Their offense is surprisingly middling given the 12% goose when they get play half their games at Coors. Goodman, Rumfeld and McCarthy are their main offensive threats. Their rotation has been surprisingly stable, but not great as the lowest ERA is 5.38. Lorenzen, Sugano, Freeland and Feltner are their main starters.
The pitching probables
Friday 9.3 – 740pm CDT – Pallante vs. RHP Ryan Feltner (5.84 ERA)
Saturday 9.4 – 710pm CDT – Liberatore vs. RHP Mason Adams (3.00 ERA, a newcomer from the White Sox org)
Sunday 9.5 – 210pm CDT – Leahy (or McGreevy) vs. RHP Tanner Gordon (5.18 ERA)
