MLB Series Preview: Chicago White Sox (3-3) vs. Colorado Rockies (3-4)

Apr 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) is congratulated by right fielder Michael Cuddyer (3) after scoring in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies are coming off of a series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and have their sights on the Chicago White Sox who come to town with a 3-3 record. Colorado will have to improve on their interleague play this season or the playoff run could look bleak. They didn’t do a good job last season in interleague games, going 5-15. They look to turn that around with Jordan Lyles on the mound who is coming off of a solid performance on the road in Miami. He would toss five innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Probable Pitchers:

4/7: Felipe Paulino (CHW) vs. Jordan Lyles (COL)
4/8: Jose Quintana (CHW): vs. Franklin Morales (COL)
4/9: Erik Johnson (CHW): vs. Juan Nicasio (COL)

Last seasons batting champion Michael Cuddyer has picked up where he left off. In seven games this season, Cuddy is batting (13-for-30), hitting at a line of .433/.419/.700 with two home runs, two doubles, and seven RBI’s. He will have to go up against White Sox pitcher Felipe Paulino who is coming off of a solid outing against the Kansas City Royals. The former Rockie pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits, two runs, one earned while striking out six batters.

Colorado ran into some trouble facing Wade Miley Sunday afternoon. Whenever they seemed to have a rally going, they would ground into a pitchers best friend, the double play. They would ground into five double plays, two of which coming off of the bat of second baseman DJ LeMahieu. A player to keep an eye on for the White Sox is shortstop Alexei Ramirez who has gotten off to a strong start at the plate. He is batting (10-for-22) in six games played, collecting two doubles and four RBI’s.

The Colorado Rockies expect to active left-handed relief pitcher Boone Logan for the series. He was recently on a rehab stint with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate Colorado Spring Sky Sox. Logan had surgery back in October to remove bone chips and a bone spur from his throwing elbow. Here is what he said via The Denver Post:

"“Since I threw back-to-back for the first time in rehab, they are probably going to wait,” said Logan, the former Yankee who signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal to join the Rockies. “So it makes some sense. I would think they are going to avoid using me for a couple of days, so it doesn’t make sense to make another move.”"

First-pitch between the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 8:40 PM ET, 6:40 PM MT.