Rockies at Braves
Kyle Freeland, who grew up in Denver, is trying to pitch his hometown Colorado Rockies to their first postseason berth since 2009 and the rookie left-hander takes the mound Saturday for the middle game of a weekend series at the Atlanta Braves. Freeland, one of three Rockies rookie pitchers with 10 or more victories, looks to snap a rough stretch for Colorado on the road, which has dropped 24 of its past 31 games away from home after Friday’s 5-2 defeat.
Center fielder Charlie Blackmon - who leads the National League in hitting at .337 - left Friday’s game with what appeared to be a leg injury and the Rockies hold a 3 1/2-game lead for the second NL wild-card spot. The Braves have split their past eight games, averaging 6.2 runs and 11 hits per contest during that stretch. Atlanta second baseman Brandon Phillips has recorded at least one hit in 18 of his 22 contests played in August, extending his hitting streak to 10 games and moving within seven hits of 2,000 in his career. Left fielder Matt Kemp belted his first homer since returning from the disabled list in Friday’s victory, and is 6-of-11 in his past three games after a three-hit performance.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FSN South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (11-8, 3.71 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (2-7, 4.13)
Freeland is winless in two August starts, but has posted a 3.86 ERA with a .205 opponents batting average in those outings. The 24-year-old drew a no-decision against the Braves on Aug. 15 in Denver, giving up three runs on four hits with five strikeouts in six innings, but lost five days later to Milwaukee despite allowing just two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Freeland actually has pitched worse on the road than at hitter-happy Coors Field, posting a 4.22 ERA with 10 homers allowed in 59 2/3 innings in 11 road appearances (10 starts).
Newcomb earned the first home victory of his major-league career Sunday against Cincinnati, pitching five scoreless innings and working around five walks for an 8-1 victory. The 24-year-old rookie has recorded a 3.32 ERA in four starts this month, but a WHIP of 1.66 with 17 walks in 21 2/3 innings. Newcomb gave up three solo homers against the Rockies on Aug. 15 in Denver, getting a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits across six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta C Kurt Suzuki tied a career high with his 15th homer of the season Friday - his third in his last three games.
2. The Rockies dropped to 11-41 when scoring three runs or fewer.
3. Braves rookie 2B Ozzie Albies finished 2-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in the series opener, and is hitting .429 during his current six-game hitting streak.