PITTSBURGH — Daniel Bard has seen a lot of pitchers come and go since he first stepped onto the big-league stage 14 years ago.

But he’s seen very few like Jake Bird, the right-hander who’s been terrific in the role of the Rockies’ bullpen workhorse over the first six weeks of the season.

Allow Bard, the 37-year-old right-hander, to explain.

“I was Jake’s throwing partner when he got called up in June last year,” Bard said. “His ability to move the baseball was impressive. Like, really impressive. Like, better than most of the guys I’ve ever played catch with.”

Specifics, please.

“He has an elite sinker and an elite ability to spin that curve, or slurve, whatever you want to call it,” Bard said. “I saw that from the get-go last year. I almost couldn’t believe he wasn’t having more success, just because of his ability to move the ball so much.”

Bird’s 2022 rookie season was far from a disaster. There were hints of promise within the 4.91 ERA he posted over 38 games (47 2/3 innings). But there were too many walks (4.3 per nine innings) and not enough strikeouts (7.9 per nine) for someone with such good stuff.

And Bird, like the Rockies, got off to a painfully slow start this season. He missed a big chunk of spring training with a strained left oblique and posted an 11.12 ERA over his first five regular-season appearances.

But as the Rockies open a three-game series against Philadelphia on Friday night at Coors Field, the UCLA product has become a reliable force for the Rockies. Since April 11, he’s posted a 0.47 ERA with 24 strikeouts vs. five walks over his last 12 appearances.

Colorado’s fifth-round draft choice in 2018 leads the majors with 25 innings of relief work and ranks fourth with 28 strikeouts (10.1 per nine innings). Much to the delight of manager Bud Black, Bird’s walked only seven batters for an above-average rate of 2.5 per nine.

“I have been able to work the zone and put guys in uncomfortable counts,” Bird said. “I’m not trying to be perfect to specific (pitch) areas, but I’ve been able to get my sinker down, for the most part.

“And I’m having a better plan going into the game, and executing that plan just a little bit better, vs. just trying to force everything. I’m not thinking, ‘Well my stuff’s really good so all I have to do is throw it for a strike.’ I’m just being a little bit more intentional with every pitch.”

Black understood that Bird’s injury in spring training put the right-hander behind, but now Bird is matching Black’s expectations as the multi-purpose reliever every team needs.

“Now he’s caught up and he’s pitched great,” Black said. “You look at Jake’s history. He was a starter in college and he started some in the minors, too, so we felt he was a guy who was very capable of giving us more than one inning if we needed it.

“He can hold his stuff for 30 or 40 pitches. He’s been such a big part of our team wins by giving us anywhere from one or two outs, to six-plus outs. He’s been very dependable.”

After the worst April in franchise history, the Rockies enter Friday’s game against the Phillies having won three series in a row and 10 of their last 15 games. The bullpen, with its 2.90 ERA over those 15 games, has been an essential element of the about-face. Last year, relievers posted a combined 4.82 ERA, the highest in the majors and the 13th-highest in franchise history.

“There are always going to be ups and downs, for sure,” Black said. “But over the winter and going into spring training, we thought we could have a very good bullpen.”

Black, as well as pitching coach Darryl Scott, believe Bird has an elite 95 mph sinker and a plus cut-fastball. Plus, Bird can also mix in the occasional curveball.

“The biggest challenge for a pitcher is to be able to harness that movement within the strike zone,” Black said. “Bird’s doing that.”

That’s exactly what Bard thought when he first saw Bird take the big-league stage.

“He just had to figure out his safe spot to throw those pitches and where to attack hitters,” Bard said. “Now that he’s figuring it out, he’s well on his way.”

Friday’s pitching matchup

Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (3-2, 5.97 ERA) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (3-4, 6.75)

6:40 p.m. Friday, Coors Field

TV: ATTRM

Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

Gomber lost four starts to begin the season and pitched poorly during that stretch. But the lefty enters Friday’s game having won his last three games and pitched well doing it. Over 17 innings, he’s given up just three runs for a 1.59 ERA. He’s only faced the Phillies twice (one start), going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA  with two walks and seven strikeouts. He started against the Phillies on April 28, 2022, at Citizens Bank Park, allowing three runs (two earned) over six innings, with one walk and six strikeouts.

Walker, the former Mets right-hander, has made seven career starts against Colorado and pitched well, going 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA while fanning 44 and walking 18. Last May, he came into Coors Field and dominated the Rockies, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 Mets victory. He gave up five hits and two walks while striking out six. On Sunday, Walker delivered his best start since signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies in the offseason. He allowed three hits and one run with no walks and six strikeouts across six innings in Philly’s 6-1 win over Boston at Citizens Bank Park.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Phillies LHP Ranger Suarez (2023 debut) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.08), 6:10 p.m., ATTRM

Sunday: Phillies LHP Matt Strahm (2-3, 3.14) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-4, 3.57), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM

Monday: Reds RHP Hunter Green (0-3, 3.69) at Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-0, 4.56), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM

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