The Colorado Rockies just finished a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, an unofficial rival who is also enduring a miserable 2023 season. The Rockies took two of the three games against the Redbirds, with the series clincher coming from six shutout innings from Austin Gomber on Sunday.
I tab the Cardinals as the “unofficial rivals” of Colorado because they employ a third baseman that is still symbolic of the Rockies franchise and quite divisive amongst their fans. For most, it is not unknown that Gomber’s performance on Sunday is notable because it was not only against his former club, but because he has had to live and perform in the shadow of the trade that brought him and others to Colorado for franchise star Nolan Arenado.