The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies are both feeling upbeat for their weekend series in Denver, but for different reasons.
Arizona ended a five-game road losing streak with a 9-5 win at Toronto on Thursday while Colorado, despite an extra-innings loss to Washington, heads home after a 4-3 road trip.
Both will try to keep the good vibes going Friday night when the Diamondbacks send Zac Gallen (4-8, 5.19 ERA) against Rockies lefty Austin Gomber (0-0, 0.00) in the opener of the three-game series.
Colorado’s recent success — it is 8-8 over the last 16 games — has put a pause on the path to a record losing season and has given the team confidence heading into a six-game homestand.
“Boys are playing hard, boys are playing good,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “They’re paying attention to details; they’re playing with energy. It’s just good stuff, fun to be a part of.”
Colorado is still on track to break the modern era record for losses in a season of 121 set by the Chicago White Sox last year. The Rockies have been more successful on the road of late where they are 7-3 since June 2 while dropping 11 of their last 13 at home.
But a four-game winning streak before Thursday and a second series win of the season has helped bring momentum into Coors Field.
“That was a good seven-game stretch for us,” Shaeffer said. “If you take road trips by themselves, we won that road trip. Which is a very good thing moving forward, and we’re going to try to build on that.”
Gomber is making his second start of the season after missing the first 2 1/2 months with a left shoulder injury. He tossed five scoreless innings at the Braves on Sunday in his first start since Sept. 25.
Friday night will be his 11th career start against Arizona. He is 3-1 with a 5.65 ERA in 14 total appearances against the NL West rival.
Gallen has pitched well against Colorado in his career, going 7-1 with a 3.03 ERA. Friday will be his 17th career start against the Rockies, which will be more than any other team he’s faced.
He is 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA in seven starts at Coors Field.
Gallen won’t have Gabriel Moreno behind the plate on Friday night. The Diamondbacks placed the catcher on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, retroactive to Monday, with a right hand contusion.
Moreno initially suffered the injury June 6th and had played through it.
“Very unfortunate for Gabby. He was doing his best to manage it,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “There were some very bright moments that led us to think he was on the other side of it, but sometimes that doesn’t happen.
“Things can be very finicky inside of the body, and … reacting to such, and told us that he needed some time down.”
Arizona got some good news when X-rays on Corbin Carroll’s left hand showed no fracture. Carroll was hit by a pitch Wednesday night but avoided serious injury. He didn’t play Thursday but could return to the lineup against Colorado.
–Field Level Media
