The Rockies are trying to put a rough week behind them, and the next opponent in Denver arrives with plenty on the line.
After getting swept at home by the Dodgers, Colorado sits at 50-77. The season is still dragging toward its finish, but the Rockies are also still in position to avoid a fourth straight 100-loss year. That gives this weekend’s series against the Guardians a little extra bite, even if the calendar already says August 21.
Cleveland comes in at 62-66, and unlike Colorado, the Guardians are right in the middle of a tight race. They’re one game out of the third and final AL wild-card spot and only 4.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Both teams have something to chase in this one, even if the stakes look different on paper.
Colorado’s progress is still modest, but 50 wins in August is a step forward after a third straight 100-loss season. With Paul DePodesta now running baseball operations, the organization is clearly trying to point things in a new direction. The Rockies will try to answer the Dodgers sweep by taking on a Cleveland club that has had its own issues since the All-Star break.
The pitching matchups give the series a few interesting angles, especially on Sunday. Foster Griffin was a notable trade-deadline addition for the Guardians from the Washington Nationals, and he has opened his Cleveland run with a 2-1 record and a 4.20 ERA over three starts and 15 innings. He has 15 strikeouts in that stretch, and this will be his first time facing Colorado this season.
Colorado will counter with Sugano, the veteran who has been the most reliable starter DePodesta brought in over the offseason. Michael Lorenzen was designated for assignment earlier this week, and Jose Quintana is injured, which puts even more focus on Sugano’s outing.
He’s trying to get to win No. 13 for the second time after coming up short Monday night against the Dodgers at home. August hasn’t treated him well either, with a 6.19 ERA in 16 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks and Dodgers.
Cleveland finally snapped its series drought by taking two of three from the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, its first series win since the first series after the All-Star break. Now the Guardians head into Denver looking to keep that momentum going, while the Rockies hope to play spoiler and take a series at home.
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