Meeting with the media 65 games into the 2026 MLB season, Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta believes there is still a lot to learn about his club and its direction for the rest of this year and beyond.

Injuries to outfielders Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle have slowed the offense and Chase Dollander and Jose Quintana are sidelined as well, short-circuiting the rotation’s flow. Add in high-leverage relievers Jimmy Herget and Victor Vodnik, currently on the injured list as well, and the first portion of this year has seen the Rockies often resemble a mix-and-match MASH unit.

None of those are excuses for the team’s 24-41 record before the Brewers finale, DePodesta said on Sunday morning. However, there are significant reasons why he is still searching for exactly what the ceiling of this year’s Rockies could be.

“I think our biggest problem is that we have a lot of guys out. That’s not an excuse. That’s our reality,” DePodesta said. “We haven’t really been able to see our team together as we viewed it.

“I think we have a decent feel for a handful of players. As you can see through the course of these first two and a half months, there are players who have been up and down at different times. I think they’ve certainly shown what they’re capable of, and I think what we’re anxious to see is when your pitching, hitting and defense all come together because we’ve had stretches of each of those performing really well.”

It has been a season of ups and downs, but also progress, DePodesta believes. The team’s 24 wins put the franchise well ahead of where it was last season, when it didn’t win its 24^th game until July 19 on its way to a franchise-record 119 losses.

That progress has happened despite the injuries as well as worrisome numbers from a pair of veteran starters in Kyle Freeland (8.06 ahead of his Sunday start against Milwaukee) and Michael Lorenzen (8.01 ERA through his first 14 games and 13 starts).

Those numbers are part of the reason why Colorado still hasn’t unlocked how to win at home this season. Entering Sunday, the Rockies were 12-18 at Coors Field, but there is a direct correlation to success by the starting pitchers equating to wins. Colorado is 11-5 when its starter throws at least five innings and 1-13 when the starter doesn’t reach that milestone.

DePodesta emphasized on Sunday that both Freeland and Lorenzen would be given a chance to work through their current struggles with the full support of the front office and coaching staff.

“They’re intense competitors, so I think it’s tough for them to not be as successful as they expect to be,” DePodesta said. “They’re trying to figure it out. The least we can do is be right there by their side and fighting along with them and believe in them.”

One starter who has not been struggling is Tomoyuki Sugano, who is scheduled to start Tuesday’s series opener in Denver against the Chicago Cubs. Through his first 12 starts, he has logged a 3.98 ERA and there have been whispers that Sugano could join reliever Antonio Senzatela, Moniak and others as potential trade pieces at the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline that could help the Rockies in the future.

DePodesta called any trade discussions that have happened so far this season as “preliminary.” However, conversations about what direction the Rockies could take at the trade deadline are coming into focus.

“I think we just need to be opportunistic, so whatever might be available to us, whether it’s helping the big league team, whether it’s helping the upper levels, or whether it’s something dynamic at the lower levels, I think we have to be open to all of them,” DePodesta said of any trade proposals.

Are there any Rockies who are untouchable at this year’s trade deadline? DePodesta wouldn’t go so far to say that, but did indicate it would take a massive return for stalwarts such as Hunter Goodman or Ezequiel Tovar to even be considered in a trade.

“There would be certain guys that would be really hard for us to move. I think that’s probably true for any team. There are guys that we feel are hopefully foundational players for us going forward,” DePodesta said without naming names. “At the same time, I think we need to be opportunistic. We’re not where we want to be, right? So, if there are opportunities for us to get better, certainly both in the short-term and long-term, I think we need to look at that.

“I think it’s our responsibility to look at that, but we’re not actively there. There are a lot of guys that we’re not going to be active in shopping, that’s for sure.”

Brewers 12, Rockies 4

What happened: Milwaukee exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit and take command on its way to a three-game sweep. It marked the fourth consecutive loss and fourth sweep of the season for the Rockies (24-42) and their second time being swept at Coors Field.

On the mound: Colorado starter Kyle Freeland became the all-time franchise leader in innings pitched with his 5.0-inning outing, bypassing Aaron Cook. Freeland now has 1,313 1/3 innings under his belt in his 10th season with the Rockies. The 33-year-old southpaw held the Brewers to one run and five hits before running into trouble in the sixth.

At the plate: Hunter Goodman launched a solo shot in the ninth inning, marking his 17th home run and 30th RBI of the season. He has now homered in four of his last six games and six of his last 11 contests.

What’s next: After an off day on Monday, Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4, 3.98) is scheduled to open as Colorado’s starter against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. The Cubs have not announced a starter.