There is a chance — a chance, mind you — that the Rockies will put their best starting rotation in franchise history on the mound this season.

That tantalizing possibility is predicated on many things, but certainly, two things must happen. One, the Rockies’ core of young pitchers must stay healthy. Two, those pitchers must continue the maturation that began last season.

The quest begins in earnest Wednesday at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz., when pitchers and catchers gather for the first official workout of spring training. It promises to be an intriguing camp, with seven pitchers competing for five slots in the rotation.

The seven: right-handers Jon Gray (age 26), Chad Bettis (28), German Marquez (22), Antonio Senzatela (23) and Jeff Hoffman (25); and left-handers Tyler Anderson (28) and Kyle Freeland (24). As a unit last season, those seven (plus Tyler Chatwood, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent in December), went 63-56 while compiling a 4.59 ERA, the fifth-lowest ERA in franchise history.

“Last season spoke really highly of those guys,” said Bettis, who battled back from testicular cancer to make nine starts. “For them to be able to step up in that position, on the big stage, was huge. And none of them took it for granted, which was awesome. They have all been down here in (Arizona) working to get better. It’s a tight group. We’re all pushing each other to be better.”

With Bettis out of action for much of last season while he battled cancer, and with Gray going on the disabled list April 14 because of a broken bone in his left foot, it looked as though the Rockies’ 2017 season would be a bust. Instead, the Rockies won 87 games and made it to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

“The success our young pitchers had gave them a little more fuel for this year,” Bettis said. “I mean, the critics came in and said, ‘Oh, the Rockies are falling apart with their pitching staff.’ So for those guys to step up was huge. At the same time, I think those guys understand what it will take to get better this season.”

Improved pitch command, especially in key situations, as well as cutting down on walks, will be the primary focus this spring. Last year, the Rockies’ starters posted an 18.9 percent strikeout rate and an 8.4 percent walk rate, both among the worst of teams that made it to the playoffs.

“Our pitching staff — with the exception of a couple guys — historically and statistically, have a walk habit,” manager Bud Black said. “We have to do a better job of both coaching them and them making some adjustments in their game to be better strike throwers, especially in certain counts.”

Colorado’s starters were given directives to work on specifics of their game over the winter. For Freeland, who finished 11-11 with a 4.10 ERA in his rookie season, the mission was to sharpen his delivery.

“The biggest change is a more consistent delivery and my direction on the mound — finishing more toward the plate,” he said. “That’s gotten much better. That’s helping command, it’s helping velocity, it’s helping a whole bunch of things, all rolled into one simple thing.” Related Articles Saunders: DJ LeMahieu rocks; expanded playoffs beyond 2020 a mistake; 4 good things about Rockies

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Marquez, who went 11-7 with a 4.39 ERA and led big-league rookies with 14 quality starts, spent the offseason in his native Venezuela working on adding a serviceable third pitch. His 95 mph fastball and 80 mph curveball make for a wicked one-two punch, but Marquez knows he needs a third pitch if he wants to take the next step.

“I’ve been working on my changeup and my slider,” he said. “Right now, the change is better than the slider. I feel like I am getting comfortable with it.”

Anderson could be on the verge of a breakout season. Last year, he missed all of July and August after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, but he returned in fine form. He was 3-1 with a 1.19 ERA with 18 strikeouts vs. just three walks in his final four appearances of the season, flashing the promise that made him a first-round draft pick in 2011.

“My knee finally felt strong after the surgery, and I think I had better command when I came back,” Anderson said.

Black expects his rotation to be better this year, but he knows it’s no sure thing.

“We have to guard against a little bit of a sophomore season, with four guys specifically — Freeland, Senzatela, Marquez and Hoffman,” he said. “The guys aren’t going to jump on the scene like they did last year. There’s a book on these guys now, especially within our own division. So they have to get better. It comes down to consistency.”

For Gray, the next step is gigantic. He finished 10-4 with a 3.67 ERA, but his 2017 season was tarnished by his poor performance in the wild-card playoff loss at Arizona. The Diamondbacks ripped him for four runs on seven hits, and he recorded only four outs.

“Jon has been very up front and honest about what happened that night,” Black said. “He’s confronted it head on, and I’m proud of how he handled that aftermath. He’s going to grow from this experience.”

Gray understands that the Rockies want him to rise to the level of a bona fide ace.

“An ace is a guy who is almost guaranteed to win every game, like (Clayton) Kershaw,” Gray said. “But not every team has that guy. I mean, maybe only seven or eight really do. But that’s the goal, and that’s where you want to be. I’m not there yet, I know that.”

Injuries, of course, are the wild card that could spoil the Rockies’ hopes. Even with Bettis and Gray missing significant time a season ago, the Rockies needed only eight starters last year. It’s rare for any team, especially the Rockies, to make it through the season without utilizing 10 or more starters. That’s why depth is so important.

Colorado’s 40-man major-league roster includes right-handers Yency Almonte and Zach Jemiola and lefty Sam Howard — all of whom pitched for Triple-A Albuquerque last year. Promising lefty Harrison Musgrave returns as a nonroster invitee. He was considered for the opening-day roster last year but then suffered a season-ending finger injury early on in Triple-A.

Right-hander Ryan Castellani, who turns 22 on April 1, returns for his second big-league camp after pitching all of last season for Double-A Hartford. He’s another young pitcher who bears watching this spring.