Rockies-Diamondbacks Series Grades: A message to the NL West

The Colorado Rockies imposed themselves on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a big series win, pulling off three W’s in four games, maintaining their NL West lead.

As we do after each series, using our advanced statistics and our in-house all-encompassing metric DPR, we bring you our Rockies grades.

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

Trevor Story (62.70 — C+): Story had a big final game with a homer, three runs, and two hits. The rest of his series wasn’t overly spectacular though, outside of a big three-run homer in game one. Story’s grade was hurt by seven strikeouts in the series as he lacked a bit of consistency against the D-backs. Regardless, the shortstop still crushed big knocks which ultimately what mattered most.

Nolan Arenado (96.47 — ⭐): Nolan got right out of his offensive slump in the final games against Arizona with some impressive performances. In those final three games, the third baseman went off for seven hits, with four doubles and two home runs. Arenado scored seven runs and had five RBIs in a much-needed bounce back. Nolan getting going in September is a scary sight for the rest of the division in a tight race.

Charlie Blackmon (81.41 — A-): Blackmon was at his best in the opening match of the series getting three hits and a walk. He wasn’t as spectacular the rest of the way but was consistent, getting a hit in each game, while limiting his strikeouts with only two in the four games. A really nice showing.

DJ LeMahieu (96.90 — ⭐): Yet another star performance for a big name bat in the lineup, as DJ had two big outings, none bigger than his game three walk-off that gave him a DPR of 188.35 and a WPA of .772. LeMahieu was consistent as well, getting eight hits against Arizona.

David Dahl (95.97 — ⭐): Dahl was smoking hot for most of the series with three big performances totaling eight hits, two of which were doubles and one homer against the division rivals. Of course, his highlight was a game one grand slam which took his grade a long way. The impact of the young bat was certainly felt and could go a long way in this final stretch if he can keep it up.

Carlos Gonzalez (44.24 — D): Starting in only two games, CarGo wasn’t great, with only two hits and one extra-base kncok—a double in game two.

Ian Desmond (47.89 — D+): Desmond had two doubles in the series and four hits overall but also grounded into two double plays and struck out four times. He gets a passing grade but wasn’t overwhelmingly impressive.

Ryan McMahon(55.13 — C): McMahon did well in a single start and five ABs in the series. He managed two singles and obtained a positive WPA, you can’t ask for much more from the youngster in spot duty.

Gerardo Parra (77.93 — B+): Parra did well with four hits in three appearances, with strong contributions from the veteran bat. As the offense went off in the series, Parra played a nice role.

Matt Holliday (59.84 — C): Holliday’s grade doesn’t indicate how useful he was in two pinch-hit appearances, getting a double and a walk. Starting in game three, he had a single, a walk, and struck out once. Nothing he did was otherworldly but he was a useful contributor when the Rockies called on him.

Tony Wolters (72.02 — B): Wolters had a massive game one performance with three hits, two RBIs, and two runs. In two ABs in game two, he struck out once for a negative WPA, lowering his grade some.

Chris Iannetta (49.81 — D+): Iannetta started in the final game and managed a walk in three plate appearances, nothing too exciting, as the catcher got a negative WPA.

German Marquez (87.68 — A): Marquez’s dominance continued against the Diamondbacks, with 11 Ks in a lights-out outing in game one, marking his third consecutive start with double-digit strikeouts. The Rocks star got the win in seven innings allowing six hits and one earned run while only walking one. He pounded the strike zone throwing 73 percent of his pitches for strikes. His FIP of 0.45 in that many innings was astonishing, as he had a positive ground ball to strike ball ratio.

Antonio Senzatela (55.61 — C): Senza got the lone loss of the series and wasn’t lights, at the same time he was able to eat up six innings, allowing four runs and had an efficient 12-to-9 ground ball to fly ball ratio.  His FIP of 4.99 hurt his grade, as did his negative WPA. His last two starts haven’t been great.

Jon Gray (41.40 — D): After a tough outing against the Dodgers in his last start, Gray struggled again, going only four innings and allowing four runs while walking two. While he struck out six, Gray just struggled to be efficient having to throw 94 pitches to get through four frames. His biggest issue was allowing two home runs as his FIP ballooned to 8.91 in his start.

Kyle Freeland (74.69 — B): Freeland had yet another efficient outing, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing three runs while striking out six and inducing nine ground ball outs. The Rocks ace retired 17 in a row and looked even more dominant than his DPR would suggest, pitching an efficient six innings on only 82 pitches. He’s now had 10 consecutive quality starts as he’s been on quite the run lately.

Wade Davis (95.47 — ⭐): Davis got the win in game three coming into the ninth inning and striking out two before DJ got his walk-off jack.

Adam Ottavino (21.39 — F): Otto had a rough time in game two, allowing two runs off of two hits while also walking one. He managed to strike out three to get the outs he needed but the damage had been done by then, in an up and down inning with a negative WPA but a FIP of only 0.16.

Scott Oberg (88.47 — A): Oberg’s positive run continued in two outings against Arizona getting 2.2 innings and keeping traffic off the base pads. In his two innings in game three he struck out two for a FIP of 1.16. He threw 19 of 24 pitches for strikes as his stuff keeps working.

Harrison Musgrave (68.45 — B-): In a game four appearance, Musgrave allowed a run but was able to get out of it with two ground ball outs. He’s been reliable lately a huge sign for the bullpen.

Yency Almonte (75.00 — B+): Almonte was on top of his game in game four, coming in to get two outs, and while he allowed a hit, he struck out two for a FIP of -2.90, as he pounded the strike zone throwing only three balls on 12 pitches.

Chad Bettis (68.12 — B-): Closing out game four, Bettis was solid, getting three outs on five pitches inducing a double play after allowing a single.

Sam Howard (69.21 — B-): Howard came into game one and was solid, though he did allow a hit, getting two grounders as he threw nine of 11 pitches for strikes for a FIP of 3.16 in his one appearance.

Chris Rusin (84.39 — A-): Rusin was reliable in two outings in the series. In his first appearance in game one, Rusin allowed a hit but was aided by Socrates Brito trying to leg out a single and getting thrown out at second base, after that, everything went smoothly for Rus who struck out three in the series and induced three grounders. The lefty was a smooth operator against Arizona.