Tyler Matzek Provides Hope For The Colorado Rockies Starting Rotation
By Andrew Dill
Sep 16, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tyler Matzek (46) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Matzek would be the first to tell you he didn’t finish the game the way he wanted to Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the southpaw only gave up two runs through 5.1 innings pitched, collecting his sixth victory of the season. The Colorado Rockies went on to win the game, 10-4, behind an offense that flat-out exploded.
Back to Matzek. He is providing hope for the Rockies rotation moving forward. Despite giving up 11 hits to the Dodgers in just 5.1 innings, he managed to limit the damage to just two runs — that’s just what the good pitchers do (Like his teammate Jorge De La Rosa). His last five starts have been flat-out incredible as the 23-year-old continues to get more comfortable game after game.
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Back to the rookie and his last five starts. Over a span of 34.2 innings, Matzek has yielded just 29 hits, 6 earned runs, while giving up just one home run ball. The walks will probably be the main thing to watch for with him, but he managed to walk just 11 batters during that span. The strikeout numbers continue to go up as well. In those five starts, Matzek has recorded 30 strikeouts, which is nearly a strikeout per inning.
Colorado recently locked up ace Jorge De La Rosa to a two-year deal worth around $25 million, giving Colorado two solid starters for the 2015 season. I know, I know, Colorado will need more pitching reinforcements to contend, but this is a good step moving forward. Who knows if Jhoulys Chacin will return to his former self (fingers crossed), but Colorado must take this offseason seriously when it comes to starters/relievers.
Hopefully, we won’t have to see Colorado relying on rookies such as Jon Gray, Eddie Butler, and Tyler Anderson in 2015 to make or break playoff hopes, but Tyler Matzek has provided that glimmer of hope moving forward.