Setback aside, Rockies have 'new feeling' ahead of matchup vs. Marlins

The Colorado Rockies and Marlins both have reasons for optimism ahead of their rematch on Saturday afternoon in Miami.

The Marlins obviously are feeling good after posting a 2-1 victory in the season opener on Friday.

But Colorado, after an awful 2025 that included a majors-worst 5.97 ERA, is feeling hopeful, too.

Three Rockies relievers -- Jimmy Herget, Brennan Bernardino and Juan Mejia -- combined to pitch 3 2/3 scoreless innings on Friday, allowing just three hits and no walks.

Last year, Colorado's bullpen ERA of 5.18 was the second-worst in baseball history, and it was a big reason why the Rockies had the worst record in the majors (43-119).

"There's a new feeling around here," Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak said. "I'm excited for the team we've got, the moves we've made and the culture we built in spring training."

The Rockies on Saturday will start right-hander Michael Lorenzen, who is 4-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 17 career appearances (six starts) against the Marlins.

Lorenzen, who signed a one-year contract with Colorado in January, is on his seventh major-league team over the past six years. He went 7-11 with a 4.64 ERA last season for the Kansas City Royals.

With a four-seam fastball that sits at 93-94 mph, Lorenzen also throws a sinker, slider, changeup, curveball and cutter.

The Marlins will counter with right-hander Eury Perez, who went 1-0 against Colorado last year, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six without a walk.

Perez went 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in his only appearance against the Rockies in 2023.

He missed all of 2024 due to elbow surgery, and he didn't return until June of 2025. Overall, he has a 3.15 ERA in 19 starts prior to surgery and a 4.25 ERA in 20 starts after his operation. He finished 7-6 last year in those 20 starts.

On Saturday, the Marlins hope to see the return of Perez's dominant, upper-90s fastball. But this is a time for optimism, and the Marlins had to be pleased with several aspects of their opener on Friday.

For example, first baseman Christopher Morel originally was set to start on Friday before he was scratched due to a strained left oblique. To plug that hole, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough moved Connor Norby from the designated hitter role to first base. Rookie Owen Caissie, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the offseason, was inserted into the lineup as the designated hitter.

The result?

Norby went 2-for-3 with a double, and Caissie went 1-for-4 with an RBI double.

"Things happen like that sometimes," McCullough said of the injury that put Caissie into the lineup. "Owen stepped up with a big knock early in the game."

Also, Javier Sanoja -- mostly a backup -- got the start at third base and went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Catcher Agustin Ramirez, a slugger who has had issues on defense, went 1-for-2 in his bid to throw runners out attempting to steal.

And, right fielder Austin Slater, acquired off waivers on Wednesday, threw a runner out at the plate.

"It takes a lot to win a major-league game," McCullough said. "Every night, we will look for the best way to maximize our roster."

--Field Level Media