The Colorado Rockies recently faced a tough end to their four-game winning streak with a heartbreaking walk-off loss to the Washington Nationals. As they return to Denver, the Rockies are set to host the Arizona Diamondbacks in a weekend series that promises to feature sweltering temperatures.
The opening matchup on Friday evening will showcase Austin Gomber making his second start of the season. Gomber, who currently holds a 0-0 record and a perfect 0.00 ERA, is coming off a strong performance against the Atlanta Braves where he pitched five shutout innings. However, he has had difficulty against the Diamondbacks in the past, with a career ERA of 5.65 in 14 appearances. He will be especially focused on silencing hitters Ketel Marte and Randal Grichuk, both of whom have fared well against him with batting averages over .330.
Countering Gomber will be Zac Gallen, who has struggled this season with a record of 4-8 and a 5.19 ERA. Gallen has allowed at least four runs in six of his last seven starts, including a high-scoring game against the Rockies earlier this season that resulted in a 14-12 victory for Colorado.
The Rockies hope to replicate their strong hitting from that previous encounter, during which they logged 19 hits, marking their best performance in a single game this season. Colorado’s top three hitters—Jordan Beck, Tyler Freeman, and Hunter Goodman—have shown promise in June, batting .279, .396, and .344, respectively.
First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. MT and will be available on Rockies.tv or via radio on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM.
This matchup represents an opportunity for the Rockies to bounce back and capitalize on their earlier success. The support from the home crowd could be just what the team needs to regain momentum.