Rockies' Young Ace Dollander Shows Promise Despite 4-1 Loss to Atlanta
Colorado baseball fans got a glimpse of potential future dominance as Rockies rookie pitcher Chase Dollander delivered a quality start Saturday, despite the team falling 4-1 to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. The loss drops Colorado's record to 13-57 this season, but silver linings emerged for the struggling club's faithful followers.
While the Rockies' offense struggled mightily against Braves ace Spencer Strider, Dollander showed flashes of brilliance that could signal better days ahead for Colorado baseball fans. The young flamethrower touched 98.8 mph with his fastball and demonstrated impressive poise through six solid innings of work.
Promising Signs Amid Growing Pains
"For me, that was a big outing for Chase," Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters. "Especially rolling that double play in the first inning after a shaky start and then settling in. After his last two outings where he was inefficient, he gave us six strong innings."
Dollander's final line included:
- Three earned runs (four total) over six complete innings
- Six hits and three walks allowed
- Four strikeouts
- His second career quality start
- Three earned runs (four total) over six complete innings
- Six hits and three walks allowed
- Four strikeouts
- His second career quality start
Offensive Struggles Continue
The Rockies' batting lineup faced significant challenges, as the team set an unfortunate franchise record with 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Colorado's lone run came in the ninth inning when Brenton Doyle delivered a two-out single to score Hunter Goodman.
Looking Ahead
Colorado fans can look forward to the return of veteran left-hander Austin Gomber, who makes his 2025 season debut tomorrow after completing his minor league rehabilitation assignment. Gomber, who led the Rockies with 165 innings last season, brings much-needed experience to a developing rotation.
For Colorado baseball enthusiasts, while the current season presents challenges, Dollander's development offers hope for a brighter future at Coors Field. His performance against one of baseball's premier lineups suggests the potential for a homegrown ace that could help return competitive baseball to the Mile High City.
This article contains AI-generated content and reflects opinion only. Readers are encouraged to verify all information independently before drawing conclusions or making decisions.
