Nobody is happier to be out of Atlanta than the Colorado Rockies. They were hit by a bus they call the Braves and took a beating as they were swept in their four game series. Things are not going to get any easier on the road trip as they are taking on the first place Pittsburgh Pirates. Not only are they in first place, but they are also the owners of the best record in all of Major League baseball. They were expected to be good this year, but nobody was expecting this from them. They have taken the league by storm with their mix of young talent and veteran leadership. The Rockies are perhaps taking them on at the wrong time, as they are coming off of a series in which they won four of five games against their biggest rival in the Cardinals, or maybe they are primed for a letdown and the Rockies may be able to poach a couple games in the series. Either way the Rockies need to show something before this season gets out of hand.
Tonight, the Rockies will be sending Jhoulys Chacin to the mound to take on the Pirates lineup. Chacin will be looking for his 10th win on the season for the third consecutive start. On the year he is 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA. He was good in his last start against the Brewers, but he took a no decision as Matt Belisle gave up the lead for the Rockies. In the game he went seven innings allowing eight hits, three runs, one walk and he struck out four. He has been great on the road this year as he has a 3-2 record with a minuscule 1.90 ERA in seven game started. He is still looking for his first win after the All Star Break despite going seven innings and allowing three earned runs in each start he has had after the break. Current Pirates are hitting .316 against him with five home runs and nine RBI in 57 at bats. Garret Jones has done he most damage against him as he is 5 for 9 with two home runs and three RBI against Chacin. Chacin will be looking to continue to pound the strike zone in this start as he has had the most luck that way. He needs to work ahead in the count and make sure that he controls the tempo of the game.
The Rockies will be facing one of the best young arms in the Pirates organization in Gerrit Cole. He was called up halfway through the season and now has a 6-4 record with a good 3.56 ERA in nine starts on the year. Cole has allowed three earned runs or less in all nine of his starts and has had a quality start in six of the games. He took the loss in his last start despite pitching well against the Marlins. He went seven innings allowing just four hits, three runs, two walks and struck out eight in the game. He has a live arm and can run his fastball up in the upper 90's and backs that up with a wipe out slider. He has shown better command in the Major Leagues than he had in the Minors, which has been a pleasant surprise for the Pirates organization. At home this year he has a 3-3 record with a 4.08 ERA in six games started. The Rockies will be seeing Cole for the first time, but he has been a top prospect so they have seen all of the tape on him and will have a pretty good idea of what he will be throwing to them.
The Pirates lineup for the game tonight is as follows:
1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Neil Walker, 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
5. Russell Martin, C
6. Garrett Jones, 1B
7. Alex Presley, RF
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. Gerrit Cole, P
The Rockies lineup for the game tonight is as follows:
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Corey Dickerson, LF
4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS
5. Todd Helton, 1B
6. Wilin Rosario, C
7. Charlie Blackmon, RF
8. Nolan Arenado, 3B
9. Jhoulys Chacin, P
First pitch for the game tonight is at 5:05 PM Mountain time. The Rockies will be looking to break out of the cold spell they have been in, while the Pirates will be trying to remain red hot.
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