Series Preview: Rockies at Pirates

The Pirates (11-4) continue their six-game showdown with the 1993 expansion teams, returning home for a three-game series against the Rockies.

Colorado has won and lost in bunches. Sunday’s dramatic win in Washington gave the Rockies four wins in five games. This came on the heels of a string of four losses in five games. They’ve played 11 of their 17 games on the road.

Schedule

Monday, 7:05 p.m. — German Marquez (0-1, 4.97 ERA) vs. Steven Brault (2-0, 3.46); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. — Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.04) vs. Trevor Williams (3-0, 1.56); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. — Kyle Freeland (0-2, 4.50) vs. Chad Kuhl (1-1, 5.74); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Rockies

9-8

Offense

Chris Iannetta returned to the Rockies this past offseason as a free agent, and he’s off to a .300/.404/.425 start. The Rockies’ offensive stat sheet shows few other early surprises. Charlie Blackmon (.279/.380/.674), Nolan Arenado (.288/.387/.462) and D.J. LeMahieu (.308/.375/.569) are hitting well; Carlos Gonzalez (.236/.259/.473) and Ian Desmond (.185/.196/.370) are not, though Desmond did hit a dramatic go-ahead homer against his old Nationals teammates on Sunday.

Pitching

The Rockies have put resources into their bullpen with Wade Davis and Jake McGee, who have been solid. Adam Ottavino (18.69 K/9, 1.04 BB/9, 0.00 ERA, -0.40 FIP), though, has been their best pitcher. German Marquez has walked 10 in 12 2-3 innings. A testicular cancer survivor, Chad Bettis returned to the majors last year, logging 46 1-3 innings.

Outlook

The only team the Pirates have faced so far better than the Rockies is probably the Cubs, but the pitching lineup leaves an opening for the Bucs to keep hitting well and outslug the Rockies this week.