Rockies-Brewers Series Grades: A series to forget

The Colorado Rockies had a series to forget against the Milwaukee Brewers, getting walked off and seeing some of the worst performances they’ve had on the mound in a while. The offense wasn’t much better either, with a few shining exceptions. All considered, they might’ve been lucky to not get swept.

As we do after each series, using our advanced statistics and our in-house all-encompassing metric DPR, here are our individual grades.

Note: The scores below are each player’s average DPR for the series. All Rockies stats can be found here.

Trevor Story (115.17 — ⭐): Story was the unquestioned MVP of the series with an absurd nine RBIs on 14 ABs. All four hits he had went yard as he added a stolen base in game three as well. He was simply must-watch TV when he got to the plate this week. His only low-light was striking out three times.

Nolan Arenado (71.86 — B): Nolan was the hero of the series, with a massive game three performance that saved the Rockies from getting swept on the road. Not only did he have the go-ahead home run in the 11th inning, but he also came up with an amazing defensive play that saved a run. Had he limited his strikeouts, his game three DPR could’ve been higher than the massive 158 he scored.

Problem is his other two games in the series were all too quiet offensively, as the only noteworthy AB he had was a grounder into a double play, going hitless in seven at-bats.

Despite those two performances, his 76.23 DPR on the season has now climbed above Manny Machado’s as the best in the National League.

Charlie Blackmon (38.29 — D-): This was a road trip to forget for Charlie, and his series against the Brewers was even worse, as he struck out five times while only getting one single. His small saving grace was the two walks he was able to manufacture, a small consolation in a month of August that’s been unkind to Colorado’s center fielder thus far.

Carlos Gonzalez (90.43 — A+): CarGo was terrific in the series, starting off with a two-hit, two-RBI game one in which he had a homer. He then got two walks while hitting in both of the following two games, scoring two runs in the second game as well. He was one of the few consistent weapons Colorado had on offense.

Ian Desmond (41.75 — D): Desmond struggled in the series as he had a negative WPA in two of the three games and struck out four times. His best game was game two where he had a double, one of only two hits he had in Milwaukee. Not good.

DJ Lemahieu (66.35 — B-): DJ got progressively better as the series went on, culminating in game three where he had a double and a single, scoring two runs while adding a walk. He managed a single and a walk in game two as well, after he struck out once with little else to show in game one. If the progression continues he might be back to his old ways sooner rather than later.

Gerardo Parra (47.55 — D+): Parra had a quiet series walking twice and getting a single while also getting caught stealing. His WPA was in the negative in each game this series after he was extraordinary against the Cardinals.

Tom Murphy (18.14 — F): Murphy’s road trip is certainly one to forget as he struck out seven times in eight plate appearances. You don’t need to be a statistician to know that’s downright awful.

Chris Iannetta (43.66 — D): Iannetta’s been on a horrific stretch as of late. He hasn’t had a hit since mid-July and has all of one extra-base hit since July 2nd. That trend continued in his one start in game two as he managed to get a walk but also struck out once.

German Marquez (84.02 — A-): Marquez had another solid start, allowing only three hits and two runs off an RBI single and a solo home run in seven innings—all Rockies starters let at least one out of the park in the series. On 98 pitches, he threw 67 strikes and had nine Ks with a positive ground ball to strikeout ratio as well. It was a shame Colorado wasn’t able to pull off the win after such a nice showing by German.

Tyler Anderson (4.30 — F): That’s not a typo; Anderson’s DPR was that bad, his second worst of the season. In fact, the only start in which he performed worse was his first start of the year. Not since April has Anderson only gone four innings as the seven hits he allowed all scored. He conceded three homers and his 13.16 FIP says it all. A start worth forgetting as Anderson was awarded the L in game two.

Jon Gray (87.32 — A): Good thing Gray is back, as he’s been the saving grace for the Rockies staff in the last week. The big righty was dominant in eight innings after struggling a bit early, allowing four hits and one run off a solo home run while walking two. His eight strikeouts are the most he’s had since returning to the big leagues, an encouraging sign for the club. His strike percentage was above 65 percent again.

He would’ve had a higher score if his ground ball to fly ball ratio was better or his 3.54 FIP was lower, but his .387 WPA helped his cause in one of the few truly positive showings on the mound this series.

Wade Davis (-10.50 — F): This was Davis’ sixth blown save of the season as he conceded a three-run jack in game one while he struggled to find the strike zone in a 28-pitch 0.2 innings, walking two as well. His lone outing against the Brewers was Davis’ fourth worst of the season.

Adam Ottavino(47.19 — D+): Otto was fine in game one getting out the eighth unscathed before Davis blew the save. Truthfully, though, this grade is all about his blown save in game three that almost got the Rockies swept, allowing a homer to start off and two more runs, one coming off of a wild pitch. Otto’s last four appearances have not been up to the standards he’s set so far this year, a troubling sign.

Seunghwan Oh  (53.62 — C-): Oh came into game three to get the save in extra innings. Colorado’s deadline addition was far from spectacular, though, allowing two hits, but was able to get out of the mess by inducing a double play. His ground ball to strikeout ratio was poor at 1:3 and his FIP of 3.16 wasn’t great either but he did pound the strike zone, throwing seven of his 10 pitches for strikes.

Scott Oberg (67.98 — B-): Oberg’s remained solid, appearing in one inning this series (in game three), throwing all of seven pitches and getting out cleanly due to a double play by Mike Moustakas after he let Rockies killer Christian Yelich get on base. Oberg’s performance wasn’t electric but it was crucial in avoiding the sweep.

Bryan Shaw (62.22 — C+): Shaw appeared in game two walking one but getting out of trouble with three foul ball outs, putting up a less than stellar 9.16 FIP.

Jake McGee (96.53 —⭐): After two poor outings against the St Louis Cardinals, McGee was terrific in game two against the Brew Crew in a lost cause as the Rox were already down 8-4. The lefty struck out two, throwing 75 percent of his pitches for strikes in a much-needed bounce-back performance.

Harrison Musgrave (51.33 — C-): Tasked with coming in to pitch two innings in relief of Anderson, Musgrave was far from perfect as he allowed three hits and a run while throwing 23 pitches. His DPR could’ve been even lower if not for a 2.16 FIP which was his saving grace in an otherwise underwhelming outing.