This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHOENIX -- A simple bullpen principle has helped lead to the Rockies’ 16-10 run going into Monday afternoon’s opener of a four-game series against the D-backs at Chase Field: Hold the lead.

When the Rockies lead, the bullpen keeps it.

The Rockies are unbeaten when leading after seven (21-0) and eight innings (29-0). The relief staff was thought to be in a precarious state when 2022 closer Daniel Bard began the season on the injured list with anxiety. But the Rockies developed multiple options for protecting leads.

They’ve performed so admirably that, even with Bard back and pitching well in a setup role, those responsible are surprised when presented with statistics on how effective they have been at maintaining leads and securing wins.

Pierce Johnson has taken the closer role. He is 10-for-10 with a 1.69 ERA in save situations, but a 10.64 ERA in non-save outings. 

Jake Bird has a 1.71 ERA when the Rockies are ahead and a 5.00 ERA when behind. Until yielding four runs in 2/3 of an inning Saturday, lefty Brent Suter had a 0.87 ERA. Bard has yielded just one run in 8 1/3 innings since his return. Justin Lawrence saw his ERA inflate from 2.22 to 3.07 when he yielded three runs in Sunday’s ninth inning against the Mets -- but it was OK when he salted away the 11-10 victory.

Johnson believes versatility has made the difference. With righty Peter Lambert being the only true long reliever, Suter, Bird, Lawrence and Bard are asked to pitch out of a problem one inning, then take the next. Lefty Brad Hand and Johnson are considered one-inning pitchers, but Hand has gone 1 2/3 once this year.

No matter when called upon, they’ve been airtight with a lead. The Rockies need their multiple options, with seven games left in a stretch of playing 17 straight days.

“It’s just the preparation that everybody has put in,” Johnson said. “Anybody out there can pitch in any situation, and we’ll have confidence in him.”