DENVER — The Colorado Rockies limped into their 28th game of the 2025 season on April 28, dragging a brutal 4-23 record and a 15-game stretch with just one win. Facing the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field, the Rockies sent Ryan Feltner to the mound against Atlanta’s Bryce Elder in a matchup that promised a flicker of hope for a team desperate to turn the tide. By the final out, though, it was the Braves walking away with a 6-3 victory, leaving Rockies fans in the crisp Denver night grasping for something to cheer about.
Feltner, a 28-year-old right-hander from Orlando, had been a rare bright spot for Colorado’s pitching staff, entering the game with a 3.86 ERA over five starts. His last outing on April 23 against Kansas City was a gem—seven innings, one earned run, three hits, and four strikeouts. But Coors Field, with its thin air and hitter-friendly quirks, can humble even the steadiest arms. Feltner struggled early, surrendering a two-run homer to Atlanta’s Matt Olson in the first inning. By the time he exited in the sixth, he’d allowed five runs on seven hits, including another homer to Marcell Ozuna, and walked three while striking out four. His record dropped to 0-2, and his ERA climbed to 4.62.
Elder, Atlanta’s 25-year-old Texan, wasn’t exactly lights-out either. Coming off a solid six-inning, one-run performance against St. Louis on April 23, he carried a 5.57 ERA into Denver. The Rockies tagged him for three runs over six innings, including a solo shot by Ryan McMahon in the third and a two-run double by Brenton Doyle in the fifth. Elder gave up six hits, walked two, and struck out three, but he kept Colorado’s bats quiet enough to earn the win, improving to 1-1.
The Rockies’ offense, a sore spot all season, couldn’t muster the firepower to back Feltner. Colorado’s four wins in 2025 have all come when their pitchers held opponents to two runs or fewer—a tall order at Coors. The team’s 46 runs through 28 games rank dead last in the majors, and their 178 strikeouts are the second-most in baseball. McMahon and Doyle provided the only sparks, but the lineup managed just seven hits total, stranding five runners and going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Atlanta, meanwhile, leaned on its heavy hitters. Olson’s first-inning blast set the tone, and Ozuna’s fifth-inning homer padded the lead. The Braves tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when Ronald Acuña Jr. singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly. Atlanta’s bullpen, shaky at times this season, held firm, with closer Raisel Iglesias slamming the door in the ninth for his eighth save.
The game, played under clear skies with temperatures in the low 60s and a breeze blowing in from left-center, drew a crowd of 22,147—a modest turnout for a team staring down a historically grim season. Colorado’s 4-24 start is the worst in franchise history, and they remain the only team in baseball without a series win or a victory against a left-handed starter.
Feltner’s start was pushed back a day after he felt back tightness following a weight room session on April 27, a precautionary move by the Rockies’ training staff. Elder, for his part, continued his role as a back-end starter for Atlanta, eating innings and keeping his team in the game—a low bar he cleared comfortably.
The Rockies now face two more games against the Braves, with Kyle Freeland slated to pitch on April 29. Atlanta, at 14-13, looks to build momentum after winning series against St. Louis and Arizona. For Colorado, it’s another night of searching for answers in a season that’s already running on fumes.
The final score was Braves 6, Rockies 3. Feltner took the loss, Elder got the win, and Iglesias earned the save. McMahon went 2-for-4 with a homer, and Doyle drove in two runs. Olson and Ozuna homered for Atlanta. The game lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes.