The Colorado Rockies return to Coors Field for the finale of their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves carrying the weight of a devastating 4–25 start that has rapidly turned their 2025 campaign into a cautionary tale. Currently riding an eight-game losing streak, including five straight at home, the Rockies have been plagued by a combination of poor pitching, defensive miscues, and a glaring lack of offensive production, all of which have left manager Bud Black with few answers and even fewer bright spots. Rookie right-hander Chase Dollander will take the mound, tasked with halting the bleeding despite entering the game with a 1–3 record and a 7.91 ERA, and while he’s shown flashes of his top-prospect potential, he’s consistently struggled with control, allowing hard contact early and often. His challenge won’t be easy against a Braves lineup that’s finding its form and features multiple elite bats that thrive on punishing mistakes—something Dollander can ill afford at hitter-friendly Coors Field. The Rockies’ defense, which has often crumbled under pressure, must tighten up behind their young starter, especially given the importance of limiting extra outs and containing Atlanta’s high-powered lineup. Offensively, Colorado has failed to consistently threaten even middling pitching staffs, and while the high altitude of their home park theoretically favors their hitters, the production has been alarmingly scarce, with the team ranked near the bottom in runs scored, slugging percentage, and OPS.

Veterans like Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers have been unable to shoulder the load, and a rotating cast of young players has yet to establish a reliable offensive identity. Despite these struggles, the Rockies still have an opportunity to reset their approach and begin building toward long-term improvement, but they must first establish better at-bat quality, show more discipline at the plate, and capitalize on run-scoring chances that they’ve squandered too frequently. Bullpen fatigue has been a recurring issue as well, with the relief corps often entering games early due to ineffective starts and then being unable to hold close deficits. Coors Field can often provide wild momentum swings, but for the Rockies to take advantage, they need to execute the fundamentals—something that’s eluded them throughout this losing skid. A win against a team like Atlanta would be a small but meaningful step forward, both in terms of morale and momentum, and it begins with Dollander keeping the Braves from building an early lead and forcing them into late-inning decision-making. However, given the state of the Rockies’ rotation, lineup, and defense, the path to victory will require not just better play but a level of execution and focus that has been consistently lacking through the first month of the season. With the fan base growing increasingly restless and expectations reset to long-term development, this game presents a critical opportunity to show competitive spirit and plant the seeds for incremental progress in an otherwise forgettable April.