Colorado Rockies get Thursday off before opening six-game homestand on Friday night against Pittsburgh Pirates.
After having some mixed results on their recent road trip, the Colorado Rockies are taking a breath and a day off on Thursday.
While the day off probably is most welcome by Rockies players and coaches, they'll all get back at it on Friday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town.
The Pirates are scheduled to have Bubba Chandler take the mound for them. Chandler has been a bit rocky this season as he's 2-7 this season with a 4.76 ERA. Chandler has a 1.38 WHIP with 68 strikeouts and 41 walks.
Kyle Freeland Gets Friday Start
Speaking of being a bit rocky this season, well, that also includes the Rockies' Kyle Freeland. He's not been too sharp for Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer and his teammates. Entering Friday night's start, Freeland is 1-7 with a sky-high 7.98 ERA. He's struck out 49 batters while walking 16. Freeland has a 1.70 WHIP.
Colorado fans will have a chance to see Cole Carrigg and Hunter Goodman try and stay hot against the Pirates. Carrigg has three home runs since being called up and Goodman, well, he's been good, man, for the Rockies.
In just 33 MLB at-bats, Carrigg has scored six runs, collected seven hits, three homers, and eight RBIs. Carrigg also has been making some circus catches out in center field, ones that leave Rockies fans oohing and ahhing when watching him play. He also made a circus catch against the Cubs that sent him into the ivy along the outfield wall.
Goodman, who is trying to reach the MLB All-Star Game this season, has 12 doubles, 21 home runs, and 39 RBIs. He's got a slash line of .251/.536/.858. Those numbers are not to be discounted one bit. Goodman also has been calling games with some of the Rockies' pitching staff that has been seemingly rotating in and out.
Sterlin Thompson Happy With HRs
Then, there's Sterlin Thompson, who had two home runs in Wednesday night's 8-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Schaeffer seemed to be pleased with what he saw out of the rookie.
“Two homers -- one 'oppo,' one pull, the first two career homers -- pretty big night for the rook,” Schaeffer said after the game, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. “That’s one he won’t forget. It was an awesome night for him -- and then a left-on-left double [to] the opposite field. Hopefully, his family was here to see that.”
Harding also added that Thompson now puts his name on a list of other Rockies' players over the years who have homered twice in one game at the friendly confines on the North Side of Chicago.
Others include Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado, Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Vinny Castilla, and Ellis Burks.
“It’s a great moment for sure -- a cool spot to get the first one and then go to the next [at-bat] and hit the second one,” Thompson said after the game. “I always wanted to do it at Coors, but this is a pretty cool spot to hit your first two home runs.”
Thompson, Carrigg, Goodman, and their teammates hope coming home can spark them to pick up a few more wins this season. It's been quite a haul with players shuttling in and out to play in the big leagues. Colorado probably hopes that a little more stability begins to take shape.
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