Colorado Rockies series preview: three more games with the Padres

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Jon Gray of the Colorado Rockies. Getty Images. /

The Colorado Rockies will start a three game series to start the new week at 6:40 PM MT against the San Diego Padres. The Rockies already faced the Padres in four games in San Diego last week so the Rockies have some experiences against them this season.

Tonight, at 6:40 PM MT, the Rockies will take on the Padres in the first of a three game series. They faced them this past week in a four game series in San Diego and the Rockies won three of four in the series. So, here’s the probable pitchers and some scouting reports.

Tonight, Jon Gray will face Clayton Richard. The club’s aces squared off last Wednesday and the Rockies won by a score of 5-2. Jon Gray, after a rocky start (no pun intended) on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks, in which he wasn’t even able to record an out in the fifth inning while allowing six hits, three runs (all earned), and three walks, pitched much better against the Padres. He went seven scoreless innings while scattering four hits (three of which were singles), walking nobody, and striking out seven.

For Clayton Richard, the Rockies roughed him up early as he allowed three runs in the first inning. He was only able to go five innings, allowing eight hits, five runs (all earned), and three walks while striking out six. All of the damage came from 1 through 6 in the Rockies lineup as, combined, they went 9-for-23 (.391 BA) against the Padres pitching staff.

Richard doesn’t have stuff that will blow you away as he averages about 91 miles per hour on the radar gun with his fastball. He pitches to contact, as he averages less than seven strikeouts per nine innings in the past three seasons. As a result, he gives up a lot of hits. In fact, he led the NL in hits allowed last season so the Rockies have to compile the hits and knock them in. They were 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position in that game and they will need to continue that tonight.

PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 30: Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson. Getty Images. /

Tuesday

Tuesday’s match up will be between Tyler Anderson and Joey Lucchesi. Anderson had a good bounceback start after his disastrous outing against Arizona as, against the Padres, he went six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, not walking a batter, and striking out four.

Lucchesi, in only his second career MLB start, baffled the Rockies in five scoreless innings as he only allowed one measly single. However, he still walked three. It should be noted that the Rockies and Padres did not play a single game against each other in Spring Training so they did not know much about Lucchesi but now that they have faced him, they will have to adjust.

Additionally, the Rockies did not know much about Lucchesi because he completely skipped Triple-A. In fact, he only pitched in 10 games (9 starts) at the Double-A level last season. He started the season in Advanced-A ball and he had never pitched at a level higher than that.

He has a bit of an odd delivery, one that, as Jeff Huson on the Rockies TV broadcast said, is almost a cross between Dodgers pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood. He’s only a two-pitch pitcher. His fastball averages about 91 MPH and his curveball averages about 80 MPH.

This game is scheduled for 6:40 PM MT.

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 18: German Marquez #48 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning of a game at Coors Field on August 18, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Wednesday

For the Rockies on Wednesday, they have German Marquez slated to start the game against right-hander Luis Perdomo. Neither Marquez nor Perdomo faced their opponent last week in San Diego so both will be facing their respective opponents for the first time this season.

For Perdomo, he is 1-1 with an ERA of 6.00. He struggled in his first start of the season against Milwaukee, he was roughed up a lot. In four innings, he allowed seven hits, five runs (all earned), and four walks but he struck out seven. However, on Friday, he faced the reigning World Champion Houston Astros and fared much better. The Astros, who are known for having the best offense in all of baseball, could only muster one run off of Perdomo in five innings. He allowed four hits while walking three and striking out four.

The key is to be patient at the plate against him. After all, he has walked seven batters in nine innings of work thus far on the season so the Rockies could get their fair share of base runners and if they can cash the runners in, runs.

It should also be noted that Perdomo has been awful in his career against the Rockies. He is 0-4 with an ERA of 6.68 in seven games (five starts). The Rockies have a slash line of .328/.381/.508 against him. He’s been even worse at Coors Field as he is 0-1 with an ERA of 9.00 in three games (one start). In nine innings at Coors, he has allowed 15 hits, 11 runs (8 earned) while allowing a slash line of .357/.413/.595 to the Rockies.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies hits a two-run rbi double against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the second inning at AT&T Park on September 19, 2017 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Blackmon’s back injury

Charlie Blackmon left Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Braves with back tightness and he did not play in Sunday’s game against them.

Bud Black said this to members of the press, including our very own Kevin Henry and Jake Shapiro, after the game on Saturday in regards to Blackmon’s injury.

“When the game started, his back started getting a little tight,” Black said. “Charlie, being the gamer that he is, grinded through a progressively tightening back all throughout the game. When we got to that situation in the ninth, I didn’t want him to swing with a bad back. I thought he would be able to square away and put the bunt down. At that moment, that was our best option to advance the runner and get to DJ (LeMahieu) and Nolan (Arenado) and potentially CarGo (Carlos Gonzalez).” (You can check out more about his initial comments here).

On Sunday, he spoke with the media again, including our very own Kevin Henry and Jake Shapiro, and he gave an update on Blackmon’s condition.

“He’s doing better. Still a little tight,” Black said. “You see he’s not in the starting lineup. Charlie will be fine. I think it’s a day-to-day situation. We spoke earlier and he feels not starting is probably the best thing for him. I think maybe he’s going to be ready, eventually, as the day moves on, to be a part of this game potentially.” (You can read more about it here).

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The Rockies are hoping that, since his situation is day-to-day, that he will be able to see game action tonight in the start of the series.

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