The Colorado Rockies had a golden opportunity to steal the series opener against the Atlanta Braves at home, jumping out to a commanding 6-0 lead. But in a cruel twist of fate, they watched that advantage slip away—literally. Crucial walks in the eighth and ninth innings put the Rox in danger and, ultimately, behind in a game where their win probability soared to 96.0% at one point. As any seasoned fan knows, leads can be fleeting at Coors Field, especially when the bats go silent after the second inning.
The Rockies managed a respectable 13-15 record in April, avoiding prolonged losing streaks aside from a six-game skid. To kick off May on the right foot, they'll aim to stop the bleeding and secure at least one win in the final two games against Atlanta.
Unfortunately, on Fourth Wing Night at Coors Field on Saturday, the Rockies' hitters face a challenge tougher than crossing the parapet: left-handed ace Chris Sale. Sale has been nothing short of dominant this season, boasting a 5-1 record in six starts with a sparkling 2.31 ERA. His efficiency is off the charts, featuring a sub-1.00 WHIP (currently 0.914), 38 strikeouts, and just nine walks. Aside from a bumpy outlier against the Los Angeles Angels in early April—where he surrendered six runs on two homers—Sale has been the epitome of consistency, allowing either one run or none in his other five outings. To add the cherry on top, he's holding batters to a .185 average against. Father Time hasn't slowed the 16-year veteran one bit, and his dominance extends to the Rockies specifically: Sale is 1-1 with a 1.48 ERA in five career games against them, including 0-1 with a 1.74 ERA at Coors.
The Rockies will counter with a steady presence of their own. Despite top prospect Chase Dollander making his first start in his last outing against the New York Mets, Colorado is reverting to their opener-plus-Dollander approach tonight. Brennan Bernardino will kick things off on the mound, looking to replicate the magic from their last dynamic duo performance on April 4th against the Philadelphia Phillies. It's a tall order, but as any Rockies fan knows, baseball at Coors is never short on drama.