The Colorado Rockies have struggled immensely in the 2023 MLB season, finishing April and May with a dismal record of 9-49. This puts them in a historically precarious position as the first team in decades to enter June without reaching double-digit wins. Their final opportunity to achieve this milestone on Saturday ended in an 8-2 loss to the New York Mets, following another defeat just a day prior.
The Rockies’ performance has shattered several negative records, marking the worst April in MLB history and securing the record for the worst 50-game start by any team. With 49 games played, they could theoretically finish the season with 101 losses even if they managed to win at least half of their remaining games.
The statistics paint an alarming picture of their season so far. The Rockies have not won a single series, have been swept eight times, and have experienced three separate eight-game losing streaks. Remarkably, they have only managed to win back-to-back games once this entire season. Their run differential stands at a staggering minus-183, the worst in the league, and they are on pace to finish with a minus-511 run differential, which would be the highest in MLB history by a significant margin.
Compounding these woes, the Rockies are also struggling within their own division, sitting 18.5 games behind the fourth-place team. Their recent defeat against the San Diego Padres featured a crushing 21-0 score, underscoring their ongoing troubles both offensively and defensively. Their offensive metrics show they are at the bottom of the league, ranked as the worst team by wRC+ and OPS, while their pitching staff has the second-worst ERA in MLB at 5.64.
Key players have also struggled or been sidelined by injuries. Kris Bryant, the team’s notable free-agent acquisition, has faced ongoing health issues and has performed below expectations. Additionally, their minor league system is not providing the immediate hope the franchise might need, with only one top prospect, Chase Dollander, currently on the MLB roster and also dealing with injuries.
Management changes have not yielded improvement; after dismissing manager Bud Black with a 7-33 record, the team has only added to their losing streak. The uncertainty surrounding the team’s future and the trade deadline promises only to complicate matters further.
Despite these difficulties, history shows that teams can sometimes experience a turnaround. The Rockies may not be able to salvage the rest of this season, but they could potentially benefit from the natural regression to the mean in their performance. Factors such as increased health among players or better strategic decisions could allow them to gradually improve. However, any sizable gain will require a monumental shift in their current trajectory.
The future looks uncertain, but the Rockies have an opportunity to learn from this struggle and rebuild toward a more prosperous season ahead.