Although Tyler Chatwood is off to a rocky start to the 2017 campaign, the 27-year-old managed to string together a gem Sunday afternoon; making for his best home start of the young season.
In the Colorado Rockies 5-2 victory over the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, Chatwood navigated his way through seven-plus innings of one-run baseball, allowing just two hits while striking out five en route to Colorado’s third consecutive series victory.
“We worked on some stuff,” Chatwood said. “I felt good today. I got a lot of weak contact. … Today being able to mix and slow them down with the curveball and the changeup was really big, kept them off-balance.”
The start was huge for Chatwood, who is notorious for struggling when pitching at Coors Field. Chatwood owns a combined ERA of 7.16 in games he’s started this season at Coors Field this season, a huge spike from his lifetime ERA of 4.28 and road ERA of 3.98 this year.
“We talked about the mix of pitches, incorporating his curveball and changeup into the mix to go with the fastball, cutter,” Rockies Manager Bud Black said. “He’s got a true four-pitch mix that I think can over the course of a Major League season can be really effective. He’s got four really quality pitches.”
The mix in pitches was far and above the difference maker compared to past starts for Chatwood. His fastball was electric, and the curveball and changeup kept hitters guessing all afternoon.
“Not one guy hitting looked like they were comfortable up there.” Mark Reynolds said of Chatwood’s outing.
Chatwood has great stuff, but he has just been unable to find a way to straighten things out while pitching at 20th and Blake. Regardless, manager Bud Black believes the Rockies have a potential stud in their rotation in Chatwood, one he believes could be among the NL’s best one day.
“I think he can be one of the best pitchers in the National League,” Black said following the game.
All in all, Sunday was a step in the right direction for Chatwood who is looking to help lead the Rockies back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.