Chase Dollander and the Colorado Rockies hope they caught a glimpse into the future Saturday afternoon.
Spencer Strider carved up Rockies hitters with a dominant performance, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 4-1 victory at Truist Park. Strider struck out 13 batters in six shutout innings, and only one of the Rockiers’ four baserunners against him reached second base.
Even when the Braves went to the bullpen, the visitors kept whiffing. When Jordan Beck struck out to end the ballgame, it was No. 19 on the day for Rockies hitters — a season high. Colorado is now 13-57 on the season.
Strider very much looked like the pitcher who lead the National League in wins (20) and strikeouts (281) in 2023, before an elbow injury and Tommy John surgery after two starts a season ago. Strider overpowered Colorado hitters with a fastball up to 98.1 miles per hour and a sharp-biting slider, which induced three whiffs from Ryan McMahon in one at-bat.
There were two spots were Strider got the help he needed to spin this gem. Brenton Doyle sent one towards the gap in right-centerfield in the fourth inning with Hunter Goodman on first base, but Braves outfield Michael Harris II saved a run with an excellent catch a couple steps from the wall.
The following inning, Rockies rookie shortstop Ryan Ritter took balls four and five on fastballs off the plate, but umpire Alan Porter gave Strider both calls for a strikeout. Those misses loomed larger when Kyle Farmer followed Ritter with a double to left, but Strider struck out Tyler Freeman to end that threat.
Strider’s career-best outing was 16 strikeouts in eight innings against these Rockies at this stadium in 2022. Given that this was only his sixth start since returning from surgery, the Braves didn’t give him a chance to chase that mark.
Brenton Doyle broke up Atlanta’s shutout bid with a two-out single to score Goodman in the ninth.
Dollander’s breaking ball of choice is a curve, not a slider, but the potential for him to make MLB hitters look silly like Strider did is there. He punched out Austin Riley with a wicked fastball in under the hands in the third inning, and put three straight fastballs by Matt Olson in the fifth.
The Rockies rookie flamethrower is still learning on the job at this level. The biggest hit of the game, a two-run homer from Ronald Acuna, Jr., was a good pitch — fastball up and away on the edge of the zone — to 98 percent of major-league hitters. Acuna, though, turned it around and deposited it 410 feet from home plate
Related Articles
Rockies Journal: ‘Frustrated Foursome’ of veterans looking for light amid historic losing season Rockies’ bullpen implodes late in 12-4 loss to Braves as record slides to 13-56 Renck & File: Rockies owner Dick Monfort owes fans accountability for this mess Rockies walk off Giants on Orlando Arcia’s two-run single to avoid winless homestand Rockies collapse late for second straight night against visiting GiantsDollander also struggled with his control at times, including right at the start. He walked the first two hitters, then yielded back-to-back soft singles that gave Atlanta a quick 1-0 lead. He pitched out trouble on multiple occasions, including a double-play to end that threat in the first and rallying from a 3-0 count with a runner on third to strike out Harris in the sixth.
Dollander was also only in trouble in the sixth because he should have held onto the ball after a bouncer in front of the mound glanced off his glove. The ensuing rushed throw ended up in the stands and Drake Baldwin ended up at second base.
Atlanta added a fourth run against Dollander thanks to a two-out McMahon throwing error trying to get Acuna on a soft bouncer to third and a single from Riley.
Dollander’s final line was three earned runs (four total) in six innings on six hits and three walks. He had four strikeouts, and ran his fastball up to 98.8 miles per hour.
It was the second time in his 11 starts that Dollander completed six innings, and his second career quality start. He wasn’t far off from a really strong outing. And he had an up-close look at the type of day that both he and the Rockies hope are coming soon.
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Spencer Strider, Braves bullpen overpower Rockies hitters en route to 19 strikeouts, 4-1 win )
Also on site :
- Even as Israel Blitzes Tehran, It Fears Iran’s Destructive Missiles
- 'ER' Star, 50, Reveals How Maura Tierney Helped Him
- Huge blaze after Israel strikes oil depot in Tehran (VIDEOS)