Rare is the starting pitcher who improves after joining the Rockies. In the more than 20-year history of the franchise, Jorge De La Rosa is the only one who comes to mind. But if the first month of this season is any indication, Jordan Lyles is poised to join him.
With another gem Wednesday, Lyles is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in six starts. Given that he was arguably the most hittable pitcher in baseball the previous two years in Houston -- giving up 10.3 hits and 1.2 home runs per nine innings, poor ratios by any standard -- he's about the last pitcher you'd expect to find success at Coors Field, where pitches flatten and fly balls sail.
Granted, he's always been more of a groundball pitcher, which made the high home run rates kind of surprising, and has become even more of one this year by relying more than ever on his sinker. But again, the thin air of Coors Field flattens pitches. Other sinkerballers have failed there, most famously Mike Hampton. He got off to a good start, too, before the need to create more sink forced him into some bad habits mechanically.
Considering his brutal track record, I'd be doubting the legitimacy of Lyles' hot start even if he was pitching elsewhere, but in Colorado especially, I'm staying far away.