When your fastball cooks at 97-100 mph, sometimes simpler is better.

That’s the approach the Rockies are taking with right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez, who has flashed considerable talent, but also stretches of frustrating inconsistency in his rookie season in the majors.

“I’ve cut down a lot on my leg lift,” Estevez explained before Saturday night’s game against the Padres. “I want to make sure my (front side) doesn’t open too much to the plate. I want to be smoother to the plate.”

At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Estevez is a power pitcher with long arms and a long stride. That can be both a blessing and a curse for a young pitcher.

“It’s a big body and there is a lot of moving parts,” manager Walt Weiss said. “Carlos has simplified the delivery, is what he’s done.”

Estevez, 23, entered Saturday’s game with a 5.04 ERA. He posted 11 saves before losing his closer’s role when control issues and fat pitches over the plate began costing games. He has improved of late, posting a 3.38 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP over his last seven outings.

“I think I am doing better and I never thought I was a bad pitcher like some people were saying,” Estevez said. “I never lost confidence I could do the job.”

But he did misplace his ability to consistently throw strikes, get ahead of hitters and work the ball within the strike zone. Hence the new delivery.

Asked what Estevez needs to work on during the offseason and in spring training, Weiss answered: “The ability to repeat his delivery is at or near the top of that list. The command is tied to that. We have seen outings where the command has gotten away from him and he’s gotten into trouble. That’s the biggest thing.”

Pitch limits. Unlike last season, when the Rockies were careful about the pitch count of rookie starter Jon Gray, there are no limitations on Gray as the club heads into the final three weeks of the season. Gray started against the Padres on Saturday night and likely has four starts remaining after that. That means he could finish with 30 starts and perhaps 180 innings pitched.

“There are no restrictions on Jon,” Weiss said.”You want to build on top of what he did last year, so he’s still got some room. I don’t see us altering his starts from here to the end. He’s been good, taking the ball every fifth day … He’s in a good place.”

Gray entered Saturday’s game with 153 strikeouts, already the most ever by a Rockies rookie. The record for strikeouts in a single season by a Rockies pitcher is 214 by Ubaldo Jimenez in 2010.

Footnotes. Veteran catcher Nick Hundley, who began his career in San Diego and played parts of seven seasons with the Padres, entered Saturday night’s game batting .366 against his former club. … DJ LeMahieu entered Saturday hitting .341, four points behind the Nationals’ Daniel Murphy in the race for the National League batting title.

Looking Ahead…

Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (12-7, 4.88 ERA) at Padres RHP Edwin Jackson (4-5, 5.55), 2:40 p.m. Sunday, ROOT., 850 AM

Staging a worthy encore won’t be easy for Bettis, who’s coming off the best performance of his career. He tossed a two-hit shutout against the Giants at Coors Field, striking out seven and walking none. His command was stellar and the action on his pitches confounded the Giants. Overall, Bettis has pitched well against the Padres, going 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in eight appearances (five starts) against them. However, his last start at Petco Park was not good. He was charged with four runs on 10 hits over five innings. Jackson will be seeking a proper encore of his own. He pitched seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory at Petco Park against a formidable Red Sox lineup, striking out 11, the most by a San Diego pitcher this season. Jackson had best be careful pitching to Carlos Gonzalez, who’s hitting .636 (7-for-11) with two doubles, a triple and six RBIs against Jackson.

Monday: Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (5-5, 3.35 ERA) at Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (2-11, 6.89), 7:40 p.m, ROOT

Tuesday: Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.00) at Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (7-13, 4.46), 7:40 p.m., ROOT

Wednesday: Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman (0-3, 5.60) at Diamondbacks RHP Rubby De La Rosa (4-5, 4.17), 7:40 p.m., ROOT

Thursday: Off