The Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers will return from the All-Star break on Friday night when they begin a four-game series at American Family Field. Colorado holds down fourth place in the NL West at 43-50 after taking two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates, although it missed out on a chance at a sweep with an 8-3 loss on Sunday as a -162 favorite. Milwaukee dropped three of four to the San Francisco Giants capped off by a 9-5 defeat on Sunday as a +143 underdog, but remains atop the NL Central at 50-43.
Last year's season series finished at 5-2 in favor of the Brewers, including a three-game sweep at home in late June.
As expected, the Rockies aren't in playoff contention coming out of the All-Star break, but they have won seven of their last 10 games despite dropping the finale in Pittsburgh last Sunday. Jose Iglesias got the Rockies on the board in the bottom of the first with a sac fly while Charlie Blackmon tied the game on a sac fly in the fifth, only for Pittsburgh to dominate the rest of the game.
Austin Gomber went five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Jake Bird took the loss with two runs allowed on three hits while getting just two outs. All-Star C.J. Cron went 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
“We’re playing better,” Colorado manager Bud Black said via the Associated Press about the recent turnaround. “We’re pitching better, we’re playing good defense, the hitting has come around a little bit and Kris (Bryant) is back in the lineup.”
The Rockies are a slightly profitable team on the money line for the season while going a solid 48-44 on the run line. Overs are 43-44-5 for the Rockies, with five of their last seven games going under the betting total.
While its home park has a big impact on the numbers, Colorado is in the top 10 at 4.59 runs per game on a .734 team OPS. As in most seasons, Colorado pitching is in the bottom three of the Majors with a 4.88 collective ERA including a mark of 4.69 out of the bullpen.
Cron has easily been Colorado's best hitter with a .298/.350/.552 line, 25 homers and 69 RBI. The Rockies will hope for a healthier second half from Bryant, who has a .302/.366/.460 line with four homers and 12 driven in but has been limited to 33 games by multiple injuries.
Antonio Senzatela will return from the IL (shoulder) for his first action since July 1, when he allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out one across two innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks before leaving with the injury. The 27-year-old has made 13 starts overall this season, going 3-5 with a 4.95 ERA across 60 total innings.
Colorado is mostly healthy, although starting pitchers Helcris Olivarez (strained shoulder) and Ryan Rolison (shoulder surgery) are out. Relievers Tyler Kinley (strained elbow) and Scott Oberg (blood clot removal) are also on the IL.