In case you missed it while you’ve been following the Nuggets’ quest for their first NBA title, the Rockies have been playing solid baseball.

They have moved past the season’s quarter pole and take a 19-25 record into Texas for a three-game series with the Rangers beginning Friday night at Globe Life Field.

After an ugly April in which they looked to be on a fast track toward the first 100-loss season in franchise history, the Rockies have won 11 of their last 16. True, their 19-25 record is the second-worst in the National League (only the 18-26 Cardinals are worse), and they are on pace to finish the season 70-92, so there is no party planned on Blake Street. But things are trending up.

Following is a look through the first quarter of the season:

Starting rotation: Injuries have decimated this group which is why Karl Kauffmann will make his big-league debut Friday night, despite posting a 7.78 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Albuquerque.

With right-hander German Marquez out for the season (Tommy John surgery) and right-handers Antonio Senzatela (elbow sprain) and Noah Davis (elbow inflammation) on the injured list, the Rockies signed 35-year-old veteran right-hander Chase Anderson off waivers and promoted right-hander Connor Seabold from long reliever into a starter.

It remains to be seen how sustainable the starters’ recent, mild success will be, but they have a 4.28 ERA over the last 16 games. Through nine starts, lefty Kyle Freeland (4-4, 3.16 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) has shown flashes of his 2018 season when he went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

Bullpen: In the offseason, general manager Bill Schmidt said: “We need to get pitching. We need starting pitching, no doubt, and we need bullpen arms. We need to get them any way we can.”

The Rockies were unable to bolster the rotation but Schmidt did sign veteran left-handers Brent Suter and Brad Hand, as well as right-hander Pierce Johnson, to bolster what was a terrible bullpen in 2022.

While the rotation’s recent success could well be a mirage, the bullpen has been rock-solid and should get better with the return of Tyler Kinley, possibly before the All-Star break. It ranks 15th in ERA (3.91), ninth in strikeouts per nine (9.83) and third in home runs allowed (0.69). Over the last 21 games, Rockies relievers have an ERA of 2.69.

Suter, who signed a one-year deal, has pitched remarkably well. His 0.98 ERA is the third-lowest in the majors among relievers with at least 20 innings pitched. Suter’s success makes him a prime candidate to be moved when the Aug. 1 trade deadline comes into view.

Lineup: Colorado’s offense has been hit-and-miss, mostly miss. It ranks 26th with just 37 home runs and ranks 19th in on-base percentage (.256), 17th in OPS (.715) and 30th in stolen bases (14).

What has changed is the Rockies’ ability to hit in the clutch. In their first 24 games, they hit .268 with runners in scoring position. Since then, they’ve hit .349.

Catcher Elias Diaz, an All-Star candidate, has been remarkable in the clutch, hitting .444 (16 for 36) with runners in scoring position.

And rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle has provided the offense with a much-needed jolt. His six stolen bases in 19 games is nearly half of Colorado’s total and he’s hit four home runs and driven in 11 runs in just 55 plate appearances. By comparison, veterans Ryan McMahon (four homers, 166 plate appearances), Charlie Blackmon (four, 170) and Kris Bryant (five, 173) have yet to provide the sustained power the Rockies were hoping for this season.

Thursday’s pitching matchup

Rockies RHP Karl Kauffmann (MLB debut) at Rangers LHP Martin Perez (4-1, 4.25 ERA)

6:05 p.m. Friday, Globe Life Field

TV: ATTRM

Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

Kauffmann, 25, is the latest pitcher called into duty as the Rockies attempt to prop up their injury-depleted rotation. The University of Michigan product will make his big-league debut after being promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque. The Rockies selected Kauffmann as a supplemental second-round pick in 2019. He pitched reasonably well over 15 starts with Double-A Hartford last season, posting a 4.06 ERA. His promotion to Triple-A resulted in a 6.05 ERA in 13 starts in the Pacific Coast League, where pitchers usually take their lumps. Kauffmann was left unprotected in last offseason’s Rule 5 draft but was not selected and stayed with the Rockies. In eight starts with the Isotopes this season, he’s been tagged for a 7.78 ERA and has an unimpressive 14.9% strikeout rate. The good news is that his walk rate is just 6.9%, showing that he’s made strides in commanding the strike zone.

Perez is coming off a poor start in the Rangers’ 9-7 loss to the lowly A’s. Perez allowed four runs and eight hits over five innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He allowed solo home runs to Esteury Ruiz in the first, Kevin Smith in the fourth and Carlos Perez in the fifth before exiting. Martin Perez has been hit hard this season, with opponents slashing .312/.360/.497, the highest opponents’ batting average among qualified pitchers. He’s already served up eight home runs after giving up just 11 homers in all of 2022. Perez is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in five career starts vs. Colorado, including going 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts last season.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-4, 3.16) at Rangers RHP Jon Gray (3-1, 3.15), 2:05 p.m., ATTRM

Sunday: Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-0, 5.14) at Rangers LHP Andrew Heaney (2-3, 4.71), 12:35 p.m., ATTRM

Monday: Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (3-3, 5.13) at Rockies RHP Chase Anderson (0-0, 0-0), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM

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