DENVER -- Relief pitcher Pat Neshek hopes Rockies purple becomes a lucky color.
Eighth-inning events during a 4-3 loss to the Braves Tuesday night were emblematic of what has happened since his Rockies debut July 29, after he was acquired from the Phillies.
A soft, just-inside-the-line, one-out double by Brandon Phillips, and an uncharacteristic error by Nolan Arenado on what should have been the third out allowed Phillips to score -- and Neshek was the hard-luck losing pitcher.
Statcast™ compiles expected batting average by rolling hit probabilities, based on exit velocity and launch angle. Since July 29, Neshek's expected batting average has been .232. But his actual batting average is .345 -- meaning it's 113 points higher (unluckier for him) than the contact against him should produce. Of pitchers who have thrown 100 pitches since July 29, he is the sixth-unluckiest in the Majors.
Neshek has a 4.26 ERA in nine games (6 1/3 innings) in a Rockies uniform. Add to that the fact he's been victim of two unearned runs, and … well, it has to get better, doesn't it?
"It's crazy, man; I've never seen anything like this," said Neshek, as he laughed and shook his head. "It's a big ballpark here. One against the Phillies dropped in, a couple against the Mets dropped in. … A couple infield hits.
"But it happens. My job is to just stay positive and throw strikes. There's always another day, for the most part. Next time I'm in the same situation and Nolan's going to make a heck of a play."
Neshek had a 1.12 ERA in 43 games with the Phillies before the trade. Beyond the bad luck, the numbers show Neshek is pitching the same. His seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings compute to 9.9 per nine innings. With the Phillies, the rate was 10.0. He hasn't walked a hitter with the Rockies, either.
Interestingly, since Neshek has come to the Rockies, the fifth-luckiest pitcher in the Majors (according to expected batting aveage) is Rockies lefty Mike Dunn, who has a .231 expected average but a .120 actual average.
Worth noting
• The Rockies have issued corner infield callup Ryan McMahon No. 24. He had worn No. 1 since joining the team Friday at Miami.
Infielder Pat Valaika walked by McMahon's locker and quipped, "Why change? You got your first hit wearing No. 1."
McMahon answered, "Yeah … I got one hit wearing No. 1."
• The Rockies traded lefty pitcher Sam Moll to the Athletics on Wednesday for a player to be named or cash considerations. Moll, 25, a third-round Rockies choice in the 2013 Draft, was 3-2 with a 4.18 ERA at Triple-A Albuquerque before he was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man Major League roster for McMahon.