MLB Preview: Colorado Rockies Open Up A Four Game Set With The New York Mets
By Andrew Dill
Apr 18, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) hits an RBI single during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. The Rockies won 11-3. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies are now winners of four-straight series after finishing their road trip going 4-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. They head home Thursday night as they open up a four-game set with the resurgent New York Mets.
Colorado had the chance for a sweep Wednesday night against the D’Backs but Arizona rallied back down 4-2 heading into the ninth. They would score two in the bottom half, followed by a walk-off home run by Miguel Montero in the 10th inning to steal the victory.
Troy Tulowitzki will be a player to watch in this series as he continues to tear the cover off of the baseball. Although he went 0-for-3 in yesterdays ball game, Tulo is batting .364 on the season with 7 home runs and 22 RBI’s. Rockies fans are happy to be at home as well as Tulo is hitting .563 at Coors (18-for-32) with 5 doubles, 4 home runs, and 14 RBI’s.
Probable Starting Pitchers:
5/1: Mets: Bartolo Colon (2-3, 4.50 ERA) vs. Rockies: Juan Nicasio (2-1, 5.27 ERA).
5/2: Mets: Zach Wheeler (1-2, 3.99 ERA) vs. Rockies: Jorge De La Rosa (2-3, 5.23 ERA).
5/3: Mets: Jenrry Mejia (3-0, 3.49 ERA) vs. Rockies: Franklin Morales (3-1, 4.40 ERA).
5/4: Dillon Gee (2-1, 2.88 ERA) vs. Rockies: Jhoulys Chacin (Season Debut)
Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado keeps hitting at an incredible rate as he extended his hitting streak to 20-games yesterday; an MLB best. His teammate Justin Morneau had his 13-game hitting streak snapped last night in the loss.
Here is some research notes from ESPN Stats & Information:
"Juan Nicasio has allowed a .320 batting average in at-bats to end in his fastball and has thrown the pitch 73 percent of the time (the fourth-highest rate among qualifiers). The New York Mets have hit .253 in at-bats to end in a fastball, the worst mark in baseball."
The New York Mets have been a surprise team in Major League Baseball, sitting at a record of 15-11 entering tonight’s game. Their bats aren’t in the top half of the league but their pitching has been great. As a team, they sit at an ERA of 3.57 which is 12th in the league, along with 18 quality starts which is 4th.
Rockies’ starting pitcher in game one Juan Nicasio looks to bounce back after a disappointing outing. Against the Dodgers on Apr. 26th, Nicasio struggled with command of his fastball only making it through 4 1/3 of an inning. He gave up eight hits, five runs, five earned, two walks and four strikeouts; sky-rocketing his ERA to 5.27.