Diamondbacks at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies bolstered their bullpen during the offseason in hopes of addressing a glaring weakness, but the results have been decidedly mixed so far. After yet another bullpen meltdown on Saturday, the Rockies look to snap their three-game losing streak and salvage the finale of their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Paul Goldschmidt recorded his second straight two-homer performance and drove in four runs in Saturday’s 12-7 victory as the Diamondbacks won their seventh in a row at Coors Field. Goldschmidt owned a .144 batting average over 27 games last month but has been on a tear since the calendar turned, notching 16 hits - five homers - and 10 RBIs in eight contests in June. Colorado lost its sixth straight home game Saturday despite a stellar effort from Trevor Story, who is 5-for-8 with three blasts and six RBIs in the first two games of the series. The Rockies were hoping for more from reliever Bryan Shaw, who signed a three-year deal with the club in December but allowed six runs - one earned - in Saturday’s loss and has given up at least three in three of his last four appearances.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (5-5, 5.12 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (6-5, 3.48)
Godley has struggled to build on his success from last season, when he posted a 3.37 ERA over a career-high 155 innings. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina has lost three of his last four starts, including a rough outing versus San Francisco on Tuesday in which he surrendered seven runs over 3 2/3 frames. DJ LeMahieu is 1-for-11 against Godley, who is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in five career games (three starts) versus Colorado.
Freeland battled through a blister and allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday’s 9-6 win over Cincinnati. The 25-year-old native of Denver has gone 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in four starts at Coors Field this season compared to 3-4 with a 4.15 mark in eight turns on the road. Freeland is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three career starts against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez was a late scratch from Saturday’s lineup due to back spasms and is listed as day-to-day.
2. Arizona SS Ketel Marte is batting .324 with two homers and eight RBIs over his last 11 games.
3. Colorado placed Harrison Musgrave on the bereavement list and recalled fellow LHP Sam Howard from Triple-A Albuquerque.