The Philadelphia Phillies didn't exactly have a gauntlet to run through during their six-game season-opening homestand, but the matchups against the Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals produced a middling 3-3 record. They'll look to get right as they head out West, and they'll get a cupcake to start with the Colorado Rockies.
Philly abused Colorado last year, as did most teams, as the Rockies finished with a pitiful 43-119 record. The Rockies didn't do much in the offseason to improve the worst pitching staff in the league by ERA in 2025, with a 5.99 mark, which is good news, as some of the Phillies big bats could use some meatballs to help them get back on track.
The vibes couldn’t be lower in Philadelphia right now to start the season
— Uncovered MLB (@UncoveredMLB) March 31, 2026
- Last place in NL East
- Manager ejected 4 games into season
- Pitching staff outside Sanchez is buns
- Bryce Harper batting .063
- Kyle Schwarber batting .125
- Trea Turner batting .167 pic.twitter.com/G6iIPIEw1L
They erupted in the opener, battering Michael Lorenzen in a 10-1 victory that was over in an instant. But, ahead of the seres, it seemed one man stood in the way of that plan for total domination: grizzled veteran Jose Quintana.
The Phillies big bats have a great chance to get right against the Rockies as long-time tormentor Jose Quintana hits the IL
Quintana was scheduled to start for Colorado on Saturday, but the 37-year-old was put on the 15-day IL retroactive to March 30 with a sore right hamstring.
The crafty lefty isn't exactly the type of pitcher you'd think would strike fear in the heart of the opposition. Never a hard-thrower, his velocity has declined to the point where breaking 90 miles per hour is a challenge. With that, his strikeouts have declined over time, while his homers allowed have increased as his margin for error has thinned.
With that said, he can still be a frustrating foe and has caused fits for the Phillies in the past. The former New York Met has made 14 appearances and logged 77.2 innings against Philadelphia, posting a 3.59 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and a 25.8% strikeout rate over that time.
Maybe that performance is the reason why some thought Quintana would be a good value signing for the Phillies over the winter. Not only does the southpaw still have a little something left in the tank, but the old adage, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," exists for a reason.
Fortunately, they'll miss the old thorn in their side this go-around, and while the Rockies scramble for a replacement starter, it will almost certainly be someone with less talent and track record than Quintana. Although, of course, the fear of the unknown is also very real...
Guys like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner need to take advantage and heat up in order to make the road trip a success. Games in April matter just as much as those in August, so an improvement on this road trip will be critical.