Rockies Lineup – May 20, 2012: No Sweep Please

And this is what I was afraid of: that we would find ourselves on a Sunday afternoon, a time of the week when games are notoriously difficult to win anyway, and be looking at the business end of a sweep. At the hands of the Mariners. At home. Oh brother.

I’d say it’s good news that Jeremy Guthrie is pitching but I don’t think it necessarily is. As for Blake Beavan, the Mariners’ offering, he’s pitched 134 innings in his life, so you’d think he’d be an easy opponent. Again, not necessarily.

The good news is, Jim Tracy gave Todd Helton the day off yesterday instead of today, a shocking move by a manager who ordinarily rests every starter but Tulo and Cargo on Sundays. Dexter Fowler is getting the day off and so is Ramon Hernandez, but since Wilin Rosario has played this whole series, perhaps that’s more surprising. What can this lineup do against Beavan? I will take get a hit in the first inning.

Eric Young Jr. CF
Marco Scutaro 2B
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Todd Helton 1B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Wilin Rosario C
Jordan Pacheco 3B
Jeremy Guthrie P

Eric Wedge is nobody’s fool. This lineup scored 10 runs yesterday so you better believe he’s sticking with it (besides the substitution of Mike Carp for Alex Liddi).

Dustin Ackley 2B
Michael Saunders CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Kyle Seager 3B
Jesus Montero C
Justin Smoak 1B
Mike Carp LF
Brendan Ryan SS
Blake Beavan P

First pitch is 1:10 from Coors Field.