Series Preview: Colorado Rockies vs New York Mets

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Sep 10, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder E. Young Jr. (22) is caught stealing by Colorado Rockies second baseman D. LeMahieu (9) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies and New York Mets face off in the Big Apple for a mid-week, four-game series that will surely be a challenge for the visiting ball club.

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The Colorado Rockies are off to New York, their only trip this year to the Big Apple, to face a surprisingly decent team in the New York Mets. And they’ll get the Mets for four games this go-round, which means the Rox will see every starter in the Mets’ solid rotation except Bartolo Colon. Which actually makes me sad.

Anyways, the Mets are surprising the league right now, in part because of their great pitching staff, so this series might be similar to the one the Rockies just caught in Washington: great pitchers that shut down a ball club and make for a very long series.

So, now up: the New York Mets. As always, here are your probable pitchers, so strap in for a long four-game, mid-week series before the Rockies come back home and face the San Diego Padres in Denver.

DATES, TIMES, AND PITCHERS (all times MT)

Monday, August 10, 5:10 pm
Jon Gray (0-0, 4.50) vs. Jon Niese (6-9, 3.51)

Tuesday, August 11, 5:10 pm
Chris Rusin (3-4, 4.66) vs. Matt Harvey (10-7, 2.76)

Wednesday, August 12, 5:10 pm
Jorge De La Rosa (7-4, 4.85) vs. Jacob deGrom (10-6, 2.13)

Thursday, August 13, 10:10 am
Eddie Butler (3-9, 5.50) vs. Noah Syndergaard (6-6, 3.01)

Next: Three Keys For The Rockies

Sep 10, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman D. LeMahieu (9) slides as New York Mets shortstop W. Flores (4) completes the double play during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Series Keys For The Rockies

Same Story, Different Day

The Rockies are going to see a very similar club in New York that they just did in Washington.

The Mets pitch well, hit very poorly (though they improved that at the trade deadline) and do just enough offensively to survive while shutting down other teams when they’re on the mound.

For the Rox, that means it’s the same issue they face against so many clubs away from Coors Field: can they string together enough hits to make a game competitive?

Remember, on Friday night in Washington, the Rockies didn’t get to second base until the sixth inning. Then, on Saturday night, after Nolan Arenado‘s fourth inning home run, the Rockies were set down in order the entire rest of the game (17 straight) in a 6-1 loss. So… yeah. Get ready for more of that.

Something’s Gotta Give

The rotation is kind of in shambles. Yahoo Flande won’t throw in this series, but amongst the other four, only Jorge De La Rosa has a solid hold on his job.

Of the other three, Jon Gray is very young and will surely struggle at some point (though the Rockies are going to give him a lot of chances), Chris Rusin has scuffled lately and may not be long for the rotation himself, and Eddie Butler… just, what the hell is happening.

Depending on what happens this week in New York, you might see a markedly different Rockies rotation upon returning to Denver on Friday night against San Diego.

Hang Around And Win A Game

The Rockies may not be hitting the ball lately, but Friday night’s game is indicative of how they can win on the road. No, they aren’t going to hit a go-ahead grand slam every week (I don’t think…) but the whole idea of hanging around just long enough and then taking advantage of an opportunity when you get it is the thing to take away here.

If the Rockies can find themselves in a couple 2-1 or 3-2 games this week in New York, hey, if they can outlast the starter and get into the eighth inning down a run… anything can happen if they can put pressure on the Mets’ bullpen. It’s not likely, and you’d rather not play from behind like that every day, but… let’s be realistic.

Next: Let's Meet The New York Mets

Sep 9, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets second baseman D. Murphy (28) reaches on an infield single as Colorado Rockies first baseman J. Morneau (33) is late with the tag during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s Meet The Mets

Just like with the Nationals, the Rockies don’t see the Mets very much — so let’s go over some recent Mets news and get to know this NL East-leading club as the Rockies prepare for four at Citi Field.

Mets rally in the ninth to defeat Rays (Mets.com).
Not going to post every recent Mets game recap here, but this is indicative of their recent events… they rally late to go ahead in the eighth and ninth innings quite a bit. Which is actually a bad thing for the Rockies, because crap, you’ve seen our bullpen.

Jerry Blevins out for season after re-breaking forearm (Rising Apple).
This is obviously not going to affect the Rockies (he had been out virtually all year), but the way he did it… after breaking his forearm in April, Blevins worked all the way back to almost re-appear in New York, only to step off a curb, slip, and re-break the same forearm that had just been repaired. Good lord, man.

Citi Field finally starting to feel like Shea Stadium (Rising Apple).
So the Mets are finally starting to play the right way at home, and the fans in New York are eventually starting to take notice, recognizing that, hey, this isn’t May and these wins aren’t a fluke any more. Should be a fun time for the Rockies.

Mets bullpen is still evolving (Rising Apple).
See Rockies Key #3 on the previous slide… See? SEE?! If you hang around on a starter, wear him down, find yourself losing 2-1 or 3-2 or something late in a game, something weird could happen and the Rockies could steal a win or two! Anything could happen!

Ok… Rockies, Mets, starts tonight — and early, too, they are of course on the east coast. Let’s do this!

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