The Rockies will be taking on the Brave tonight in game two of their four game series. The Braves got the best of the Rockies last night as they defeated them 9-8 in 10 innings. The Rockies jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the top of the third inning, but Jorge De La Rosa and the Rockies defense were unable to hold the lead as the Braves answered back with six runs in the bottom half of the third. The Rockies battled all night and went into the ninth inning down by one but determined and eventually tied the game with an RBI single by Carlos Gonzalez. The Rockies lost in the 10th inning when Andrelton Simmons sent a ball into the left center field gap with Dan Uggla on first base. It was a walk off triple for Simmons and the Braves went home victorious. The Rockies will be looking for payback tonight as they take the field in Atlanta. The Rockies are now 51-56 on the season and sit 6.5 games back in the National League West division, and further back in the Wild Card race. With the trade deadline lurking, it will be interesting to see if Dan O'Dowd and Bill Geivett decide to make any moves before the deadline passes.
Taking the mound tonight for the Rockies is Juan Nicasio. Nicasio has pitched well since being called up after his demotion to AAA after his disastrous start in Boston in late June. He has allowed only one run in three starts, which spans 19 innings, and is 2-0 during that stretch. He has lowered his ERA by nearly one run as it was 5.31 after his start in Boston and it now sits at 4.40. On the season he has a 6-4 record but he seems to be a different pitcher since his return, and he is determined to prove that he belongs in the Major League rotation. Nicasio has not been good on the road this year as he has a 4.91 ERA but has managed a 3-3 record in 10 games started on the road. Current Braves have hit Nicasio hard in their career matchups. They are hitting .439 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 41 combined at bats. Nicasio should seriously consider walking Freddie Freeman every time he comes to the plate as he has done the most damage against him Freeman is 4 for 6 with one double, one triple, two home runs and six RBI. Nicasio will be looking to keep his streak going and continue to show the development that he needs in order to be successful at the Major League level. He has looked like a different pitcher in his last three starts and has been able to work within the strike zone and limit the amount of base runners he has had. If Nicasio can work in and out of the strike zone tonight then he ha a good chance to have another successful start. The Braves are notorious free swingers and will chase pitches out of the zone, so if Nicasio can be effectively wild then he has a chance to put up a big strikeout number.
The Braves will hand the ball off to Alex Wood who will have the task of taking on the talented Rockies offense. Wood was recently moved to the starting rotation due to the injuries in the Braves starting staff. On the year Wood has posted a 0-2 record with a 3.42 ERA in 17 appearances (two starts). Wood has made both of his starts this year against the Mets. In those starts he was 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in 7 1/3rd innings pitched. Wood was a second round selection in the 2012 draft and was being utilized in the bullpen because of the injuries to Johnny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty. The 6'4" 215 pound left hander has good stuff on the mound but is still working on developing his breaking ball. He has a good fastball that can work as high as 95-96 MPH when coming out of the bullpen, but he sits between 91-93 when he is a starter. He has a very good changeup that works in the mid 80's and his breaking ball that he throws right now is more of a slurve that also works in the mid 80's. He generally will stick to the fastball and changeup but he will have to occasionally work in the slurve just to keep the Rockies hitters off balance. He is young at 22 years old and inexperienced as a starter, so the Rockies will look to take advantage of him early and force Atlanta to turn to the bullpen earlier than they plan to.
The Braves lineup for the game tonight is as follows:
1. Jason Heyward, CF
2. Justin Upton, RF
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Evan Gattis, LF
5. Brian McCann, C
6. Chris Johnson, 3B
7. Dan Uggla, 2B
8. Andrelton Simmons, SS
9. Alex Wood
The Rockies lineup for the game tonight is as follows:
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Carlos Gonzalez, LF
4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Wilin Rosario, C
7. Todd Helton, 1B
8. Nolan Arenado, 3B
9. Juan Nicasio, P
First pitch for the game tonight is at 5:10 PM Mountain time. The Rockies will be looking to get some revenge from last night's loss, and will also be looking to show the Rockies front office that they still have some fight left in them and are going to make a run in the division.
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