Series Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies

Apr 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder E. Inciarte (5) runs for home as Colorado Rockies third baseman N. Arenado (28) watches the ball during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

SERIES KEYS FOR THE ROCKIES

Win without Jorge?

I only mention this key because the Brewers series flipped the expectations on the win with/without Jorge nod; the Rockies lost De La Rosa’s start against the Brewers, and won the other two games. In the ten days before that Brewers series, the Rockies had only won two games — De La Rosa’s starts — and lost everything else. Bizarrely, against the Brewers, that flipped. This series, can the Rox get to Jorge on Thursday with the series at least tied at one game apiece, and a series win in the balance? Stranger things have happened…

The Rockies must figure out Chase Anderson

Chase Anderson starts game one for Arizona, and he’s pitched well in 13 starts this year despite only receiving four decisions. The Rockies will see two other pitchers in Webster (only 11 innings pitched this season) and De La Rosa (an ERA near 5.00 across 14 starts) who aren’t anything more special than Kendrick or Hale, but that first game against Anderson will be a test for the Rox.

Does a decent-looking starter shut them down again, or can they scrape by with just enough to keep themselves in the ballgame and do something late to the Arizona bullpen?

How much more of the Kyle Kendrick Experience must we endure?

I’m firmly in the ‘don’t call up Jon Gray yet’ camp, but I’m not averse to calling up John Lannan or Yohan Flande or somebody like that (I know, I know), or slotting Christian Bergman in the rotation and letting Flande relieve, because at 2-9 with an ERA near 6.00, how much more Kyle Kendrick must we endure? If he’s hit hard again this week, I can’t imagine the Rockies giving him more shots on the mound… right?

Or maybe I’m just naive like that. But I really don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say he’s pitching for his spot in the rotation Tuesday — and if he does well, he’ll be pitching for his spot in the rotation for at least his next couple starts, too.

How’s CarGo?

Carlos Gonzalez suffered what the team is calling a mild hand sprain with no bone damage the other day. Uh-oh. This is either just a day-to-day thing, like the team has thus far implied, or… holy crap here we go again. Time will tell, I suppose, but, just, please baseball gods. He was just starting to figure it out at the plate. No fatty masses with tentacles, ok?

Next: Let's Meet The Arizona Diamondbacks