The Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers will close out a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at American Family Field. After the Brewers won Friday's opener 6-5 in 13 innings to cash in as a massive -302 favorite, the two teams will meet late again on Saturday after the time of publishing. Colorado holds down fourth place in the NL West at 43-51, while the Brewers are atop the NL Central at 51-43.
Milwaukee has won six straight head-to-head meetings after taking the 2021 season series 5-2.
There's been some positives in another rebuilding year for the Rockies, but they are now 13 games below .500 away from home as they lost a marathon game in Milwaukee on Friday night. Charlie Blackmon got things started with a two-run homer in the third before Elias Diaz provided a game-tying RBI double in the sixth, yet it wasn't enough even with Blackmon and Brendan Rodgers providing RBI in the 10th.
Starter Antonio Senzatela returned from the IL to toss five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four. Robert Stephenson was charged with the blown save, while rookie Jake Bird took the loss for allowing one unearned run in one inning of work. Blackmon and Joe both recorded multi-hit games to lead the Colorado offense.
“Well, every game is important,” manager Bud Black said to MLB.com when asked about the importance of t he next stretch which will determine what Colorado does at the trade deadline. “You know, we all talk about that, they all count. That’s the most important. And then when we get to tomorrow, that one’s important, too. But I don’t know whether you can narrow it down to nine or 10 games.”
Colorado remains up very narrowly on the money line for the season while going 49-44 on the run line. Overs are an even 44-44-5 for the Rockies with three of their last five games going over the betting total.
While playing at Coors Field certainly helps, the Rockies are a top 10 scoring offense at 4.60 runs per game on a strong .732 team OPS. As usual. Colorado pitching ranks in the bottom three with a 4.86 collective ERA including a mark out of 4.60 from the bullpen.
C.J. Cron was the lone representative for the Rockies in the All-Star Game, having hit .295/.347/.545 with 21 homers and 69 RBI so far. Kris Bryant has only played in 34 games due to injuries, but has been effective when healthy with a .298/.365/.450 with four homers and 23 runs scored.
Chad Kuhl will make his 17th start of his first season with the Rockies, hoping to continue a solid campaign as he's 6-5 with a 4.11 ERA over 92 innings. The 29-year-old went just 4.2 innings against the San Diego Padres last Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out two.
Colorado doesn't have many injuries, 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.