AL-best Tigers set to visit NL cellar-dwelling Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are off to a historically bad start, one that the Detroit franchise can empathize with.

Like the 2003 Tigers, Colorado began the season losing 25 of its first 30 games and is now 6-28 after dropping three of four games at San Francisco over the weekend. The schedule doesn't get easier for the Rockies, who open a six-game homestand Tuesday night against Detroit.

A pair of rookie right-handers will take the mound in the opener as Colorado's Chase Dollander (2-3, 6.48 ERA) will oppose Detroit's Jackson Jobe (2-0, 3.38).

Dollander has been one of the Rockies' few bright spots in a forgettable start. He won his major league debut against the Athletics on April 6 and was impressive in his last outing, holding Atlanta to one run over 5 2/3 innings in a win on Wednesday.

This will be Dollander's first career appearance against Detroit. Similarly, Jobe has never faced Colorado.

Dollander's teammates hope he can duplicate his performance from last week and provide a much-needed boost. The Rockies, who have not won more than two in a row this season -- and only accomplished that once -- are on pace for the worst record in franchise history.

Colorado reached the postseason in 2017 and 2018 but have not had a winning season since, losing more than 100 games in each of the past two years.

"Obviously, it's not been easy at all," Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland said. "We understand what we are going through right now, and we are doing everything in our power to get ourselves out of this and moving in the right direction."

The Tigers' 43-119 season in 2003 can provide hope for the Rockies. Detroit was in the World Series three years later and made the postseason every season from 2011-14 before a few lean years.

The Tigers returned to the postseason in 2024 and sit in first place in the AL Central. They took three of four at the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend and are 4-3 on a 10-game road trip.

Detroit's offense has been a catalyst in its last four wins, averaging 9.75 in those games, boosted by an eight-run ninth inning against Angels closer Kenley Jansen in Friday night's 9-1 win. Riley Greene had two home runs in that rally, while Trey Sweeney and Kerry Carpenter held the hot bats on Sunday's 13-1 victory with six and five RBIs, respectively.

The Tigers have slugged 20 home runs on this road trip heading into hitter-friendly Coors Field.

"We can do it all," Carpenter said. "I think there's a lot of guys coming into their own. Trey Sweeney had two homers in this series. Riley hit two homers in the same inning against a Hall of Famer. Colt (Keith) has hit a couple."

Even more important for Detroit, it has thrived during a rough patch in the schedule and a long list of players on the injured list. Before Monday's day off, the Tigers played 23 games in 24 days and went 15-8.

--Field Level Media