Colorado Rockies (57-47, third place in NL West, 8-2 in their last 10 games) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (53-52, fourth place in NL Central, 5-5 in their last 10 games).
The series’ pitching matchups will look like this:
Monday, July 30 at 6:10 pm MT: Tyler Anderson (6-3, 3.57 ERA) vs. Carlos Martinez (6-6, 3.39 ERA)
Anderson (7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K) was dominant in his last start against the Astros. The Las Vegas, Nevada native has now gone at least six innings in six straight starts and is currently second on the pitching staff in ERA (3.57). Anderson was excellent in July, recording a 1.32 ERA in four starts.
Martinez (5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 K) took the loss in his last start against Cubs. Martinez will be activated from the disabled list Monday after being on the shelf with an oblique injury since July 19. Martinez has lost his last two starts and has given up eight earned runs between them.
Tuesday, July 31 at 6:15 pm MT: Jon Gray (8-7, 5.16 ERA) vs. Jack Flaherty (4-5, 3.28 ERA)
Gray (7.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 6 K) was dominant in his last start against the Astros. Since being recalled from Triple-A, Gray his pitched through the seventh inning in his two starts and has allowed only two earned runs between them. The Shawnee, Oklahoma native currently leads the Rockies in strikeouts (131) and is tied for second on the club in wins (8).
Flaherty (5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 8 K) took the loss in his last start against the Reds. Flaherty currently leads the Cardinals in strikeouts (104) and is third on the pitching staff in ERA (3.28). The Burbank, California native will be making his first career start against the Rockies.
Wednesday, August 1 at 6:15 pm MT: Kyle Freeland (9-6, 3.13 ERA) vs. Luke Weaver (6-9, 4.70 ERA)
Freeland (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 K) earned the win in his last start against the Athletics. The Denver, Colorado native currently leads the Rockies in wins (9), ERA (3.13) and has been the ace of the Rockies’ pitching staff in 2018.
Weaver (6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 K) earned the win in his last start against the Cubs. Weaver is currently second on the club in strikeouts (103) but has been unable to find his success from 2017 as his ERA has jumped from a 3.88 (2017) to a 4.70 (2018).
Thursday, August 2 at 11:15 am MT: Antonio Senzatela (4-3, 5.01 ERA) vs. Miles Mikolas (11-3, 2.83 ERA)
Senzatela (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K) earned the win in his last start against the Athletics. The Valencia, Venezuela native has been hit-and-miss things for Colorado this year (5.01 ERA) and could be at risk of a demotion once Chad Bettis returns from the disabled list.
Mikolas (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 K) earned the win in his last start against the Cubs. Mikolas has been dominant for the Cardinals this season and leads the club in wins (11) and ERA (2.83).
Who’s Hot:
Colorado:
- Carlos Gonzalez has proven to be an excellent re-signing by general manager Jeff Bridich during the offseason (8-19 H/AB, 2 RBI, 1 HR) and currently is enjoying a respectable line of a .287 BA, 12 HR, and 45 RBI.
- Nolan Arenado has been dominant at the plate for the Rockies in 2018 (.306 BA, 27 HR, 75 RBI) and has emerged as a front-runner candidate for NL MVP. Arenado currently leads the NL in home runs (27) and is third in RBI (75).
Your National League home run leader! #NolanBeingNolan 😍 https://t.co/dXTUenRbIt
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 29, 2018
- Charlie Blackmon currently holds an eleven-game hitting streak and has started to play more like his 2017 self lately (32-88 H/AB, 6 HR, 12 RBI). The Dallas, Texas native is currently first on the club in hits (116) and second in batting average (.291).
- Matt Carpenter (15-44 H/AB, 7 HR, 11 RBI) has been a monster lately at the plate for St. Louis and has been the catalyst of the Cardinals’ offense in 2018. Carpenter has hit 10 home runs in July and leads St. Louis in home runs (25) and OBP (.382).
- Yadier Molina has continued to be the primary backstop for the Cardinals in 2018 and has been hot lately, going 10-26 H/AB, with 1 HR and 3 RBI.
- Marcell Ozuna currently holds a five-game hitting streak and his hit a home run in each of his last two games. Ozuna (.268 BA, 12 HR, 57 RBI) has failed to play like his 2017 self, in which he clubbed 37 HR with 124 RBI.
Who’s Not:
Colorado:
- Chris Iannetta is just 5-37 H/AB and has had a rough go of things for the Rockies this year, hitting .222 BA, 7 HR, 22 RBI.
- Tony Wolters (4-21 H/AB, 0 HR) has struggled for Colorado this year and has not been able to find his groove at the plate in 2018 (.153 BA, 2 HR, 18 RBI).
- Garrett Hampson is just batting .235 since being called up to the big leagues this year and with DJ LeMahieu getting close to returning from his injury, that may force Hampson back down to the minors.
St. Louis:
- Dexter Fowler has been ice-cold for the Cardinals (8-40 H/AB) and has been unable to contribute offensively this season (.178 BA, 8 HR, 30 RBI). The former Rockie will be facing his former club and he has punished them ever since leaving Denver, hitting .339 BA, 4 HR, and 10 RBI against Colorado.
- Paul DeJong is just 10-46 H/AB at the plate lately and has been unable to find his groove for St. Louis in 2018 (.254 BA, 9 HR, 26 RBI).
- Jedd Gyorko (16-61 H/AB) has struggled recently for the Cardinals and has been unable to match his success in 2017 (.272 BA, 20 HR, 67 RBI), hitting .247 BA, with 7 HR, and 30 RBI.