Rockies Notebook: Thursday's cancellation could create opportunity for Ryan Feltner's return

The postponement of Thursday’s Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants game is creating questions about the weekend, but the answers could be more surprising and hopeful for the denizens of Coors Field.

Chase Anderson will move his start back a day and pitch on Friday against the Giants. On Saturday, the National League West rivals will play a split doubleheader to begin at 12:10 p.m. with the nightcap starting at the previously scheduled time of 6:10 p.m.

Tonight's game has been postponed due to inclement weather pic.twitter.com/myLcGcHrmW

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 14, 2023

Manager Bud Black said Kyle Freeland is a lock to start one of the games on Saturday. It’s a fitting choice with the Blake Street Bombers – Larry Walker, Ellis Burks, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla – making an appearance on the occasion as part of the 30th Anniversary celebration. The identity of Saturday’s other starter is unclear. 

Peter Lambert was originally slated to get the ball for game two of the series, but if he’s skipped, one option could be Ryan Feltner. The 27-year-old is currently rehabilitating from a fractured skull and concussion suffered on a line drive during a May 13 start against the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s made three rehab appearances this month, pitching a combined 7.1 innings and surrendering two runs in the process. He is expected to make at least one start during the final two weeks of the regular season.

Ryan Feltner’s first rehab start since taking a line drive to the head on May 13 has been a success.

He threw 36 pitches (23 strikes) for #Rockies High-A affiliate in Spokane tonight.

Final Line: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K
🎥: @spokaneindians pic.twitter.com/vIFok3z1PI

— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) September 2, 2023

Connor Seabold is an option to make a spot start as the right-hander has not pitched for Triple-A Albuquerque this week. His last outing came Sept. 8 when he went five innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six.

Opposite Anderson on Friday will be Logan Webb. The Giants’ ace has been dominant this season against the Rockies, going 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA (20.1 IP, 4 ER) in three starts, including 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings. The 26-year-old has an opportunity to tie history with another dominant outing against Colorado. According to Stats, LLC, the only other pitcher to have ever made three consecutive starts of 6 or more scoreless frames against the Rockies is Johan Santana from 2009-12.

Logan Webb, Nasty Sliders. 😨 pic.twitter.com/zMgFyelpBz

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 10, 2023

Giant Domination

The Rockies have lost five in a row to the Giants and are 1-8 (.111) this year against them. Colorado has never won less than three games against San Francisco in a season, a low-water mark set in 1993 (3-10) and 1994 (3-7). They’ve also never had a winning percentage below .211 against the Giants, a dubious feat that occurred in 2021 with a 4-15 record.

To avoid being on the wrong side of history, the Rockies will need to split the series to finish at 3-10 (.231). That may be a lot to ask of a club that has gone 1-16 against San Francisco dating back to Aug. 21, 2022, much of that thanks to an active eight-game losing streak versus the Giants at Coors Field.

Colorado has yet to win a series this season against an NL West club. That 9-32 (.220) record has made for the worst winning percentage in franchise history. After the four-game set with the San Francisco, the Rockies travel to Petco Park for three games against the Padres before taking on the Dodgers for four back at the corner of 20th and Blake. 

Rockies Killer

This could be the final series Brandon Crawford plays at Denver. The 36-year-old’s contract will expire at the end of season and his future is unclear. Currently, the three-time All-Star shortstop is batting a career-worst .199 with a 62 OPS+, also the lowest in his 13 years in the big leagues. 

This is Brandon Crawford's last month with the Giants.

— Sean Jordan (@BaySean) September 12, 2023

Crawford has played 98 games at Coors Field, most at any ballpark outside of his home in San Francisco. His next appearance means he’ll break a tie with Luis Gonzalez to become the visiting player with the most games in Denver. He’s collected 77 RBI against Colorado pitching here, more than double (Chase Field, 38 RBI) the next-most ballpark away from home.

Patty Stats

Not all the information researched for an article gets utilized. In these instances, let’s make sure they don’t go to waste…

• Doubleheaders against the Giants have been less than favorable to the Rockies over the years. Colorado has never won both ends against San Francisco. They’ve lost both games on two occasions (2000 and 2019) and have split twice (2015 and 2021).
• The last time the Rockies came away with two wins during a doubleheader was Aug. 17, 2014 vs. Cincinnati when they won 10-9 and 10-5.
• Colorado is 57-67 all-time during doubleheaders. The club set a franchise-record by playing six doubleheaders in 2021. Immediately after, in 2022, they played seven to set the new high-water mark. Conversely, there have been only two seasons in Rockies history when they’ve never played a twin bill: 1995 and 2002. 
• The next run Crawford drives in will break a three-way tie between him, Jeff Kent and Matt Kemp for third-most RBI at Coors Field. Adrián González is first with 88 while Luis Gonzalez is second with 83. Paul Goldschmidt is sixth with 76. The player with the third-most runs batted in among active players is Brandon Belt, but he’s much further down the list. He’s currently 23rd all-time with 48.
• Crawford has hit into 12 double plays, most of any visiting player. He’s also tied with Belt for second-most strikeouts at Coors Field with 76. Three more will tie him for the most with Matt Kemp at 79 and four will put him at the top… or bottom, depending on how you want to view that.