Game of the Week: May 14: San Diego @ Colorado
Nov 13, 2022 13:23:16 GMT -5
Commissioner Erick and brewersgm like this
Post by Grubs - Philly on Nov 13, 2022 13:23:16 GMT -5
San Diego Padres (20-15) at Colorado Rockies (21-13)
Two teams that have toiled behind the Dodgers and Giants are off to terrific starts, as the pitching-heavy Padres roll into the offense-friendly Coors Field to take on the division-leading Rockies for a matinee Game of the Week. It’s finally starting to feel like spring in Denver, and the beards and craft beer will both be in full flow as Colorado fights to keep its lead atop baseball’s best division.
Undefeated Jeff Henry takes the hill for San Diego. He’s having a terrific start to the year, going 4-0 and outperforming his peripherals en route to a 2.34 ERA. Colorado trots out its own undefeated pitcher in offseason waiver wire pickup Michael Mercado. He’s filled in for Luis Noguera in the Rockies’ rotation, but while he’s undefeated, he’s far from unblemished. He’s allowed at least six runs in each of his past two starts.
Injury report
COL: CF Erik Nigro (undisclosed), 1B Trevor Story (back), CL Riley Pint (Tommy John, on rehab), SP Luis Noguera (bone chips)
SD: SP Anderson Espinoza (back, on rehab)
Colorado by the numbers
208: Runs scored, tops in the PBA. If the Rockies are going to make a deep playoff run, it’ll be fueled by offense.
4: Regulars with an OPS above .900 as the Rockies enter another series at home.
13: Offensive players, all of whom have more than 30 plate appearances for the Rockies’ platoon-heavy offense.
5: Wins each by Tomito Kawamoto and Joe McCurley. Both have an ERA near 5.00, but they’re also both averaging better than 6 innings a start, helping the Rockies eat innings while typically allowing 3-4 runs each time out.
0.66: Eric Pardinho’s ERA this season. He also sports a whopping 13 saves, easily tops in the PBA. After three and a half years in the international complex, Rockies GM Erick Blasco debuted Pardinho in AA at age 21. His starter potential tanked that same year, but he’s worked back to an effective bullpen presence who is having a dominant year.
San Diego by the numbers
9: 1-run victories. After years of cursing the OOTP gods, Creig McBride has a team he can’t complain about when it comes to tight games. The Padres’ poise has them positioned to challenge for at least a Wild Card this season.
142: Runs scored by San Diego. It’s the third-lowest total in the NL. This team is scrappy, but well-timed runs never feel as certain as a solid offense.
5.02: Closer Alfredo Orduna’s ERA this season. He’s never been a dynamite numbers guy, but Orduna’s early season blown saves have forced the Pads into scoring critical runs to bail him out. He has the tools, but if San Diego expects to build on their 9-4 record in one-run contests, he’ll need to step up his performance.
.197: John Yancey’s batting average. But despite aspiring to the Mendoza Line, Yancey leads the team with an .860 OPS. He’s clubbed 11 homers – good enough for third in the NL – and his slick fielding has given him the chance to work his way into another terrific season.
.599: Mike Fitzgerald’s OPS. It’s stunningly low for a guy who’s hovered above .900 the past couple seasons. The Big Steal needs to turn it around if San Diego wants to improve its offense without a trade.
Key questions for Colorado:
Your platoon-heavy lineup seems to emulate a certain dominant NL Central team. Was this a strategy, or something you noticed as players developed and decided to lean into it?
Riley Pint is just about ready to come back. How do you plan to slot him into your staff?
You have the third-best run differential in the division, despite your half-game lead. Is your plan to let the chips fall where they may, or are you looking to make some moves?
Key questions for San Diego:
Mike Fitzgerald is ice cold. Does he need time off? Or is it reps, reps, reps until he’s back to normal?
Will you look to improve your offense through a trade, or are there internal tweaks you’d rather make?
Adrian Morejon’s having a solid year. With two years guaranteed after this, how do you feel about his contract relative to salaries across the league?
Two teams that have toiled behind the Dodgers and Giants are off to terrific starts, as the pitching-heavy Padres roll into the offense-friendly Coors Field to take on the division-leading Rockies for a matinee Game of the Week. It’s finally starting to feel like spring in Denver, and the beards and craft beer will both be in full flow as Colorado fights to keep its lead atop baseball’s best division.
Undefeated Jeff Henry takes the hill for San Diego. He’s having a terrific start to the year, going 4-0 and outperforming his peripherals en route to a 2.34 ERA. Colorado trots out its own undefeated pitcher in offseason waiver wire pickup Michael Mercado. He’s filled in for Luis Noguera in the Rockies’ rotation, but while he’s undefeated, he’s far from unblemished. He’s allowed at least six runs in each of his past two starts.
Injury report
COL: CF Erik Nigro (undisclosed), 1B Trevor Story (back), CL Riley Pint (Tommy John, on rehab), SP Luis Noguera (bone chips)
SD: SP Anderson Espinoza (back, on rehab)
Colorado by the numbers
208: Runs scored, tops in the PBA. If the Rockies are going to make a deep playoff run, it’ll be fueled by offense.
4: Regulars with an OPS above .900 as the Rockies enter another series at home.
13: Offensive players, all of whom have more than 30 plate appearances for the Rockies’ platoon-heavy offense.
5: Wins each by Tomito Kawamoto and Joe McCurley. Both have an ERA near 5.00, but they’re also both averaging better than 6 innings a start, helping the Rockies eat innings while typically allowing 3-4 runs each time out.
0.66: Eric Pardinho’s ERA this season. He also sports a whopping 13 saves, easily tops in the PBA. After three and a half years in the international complex, Rockies GM Erick Blasco debuted Pardinho in AA at age 21. His starter potential tanked that same year, but he’s worked back to an effective bullpen presence who is having a dominant year.
San Diego by the numbers
9: 1-run victories. After years of cursing the OOTP gods, Creig McBride has a team he can’t complain about when it comes to tight games. The Padres’ poise has them positioned to challenge for at least a Wild Card this season.
142: Runs scored by San Diego. It’s the third-lowest total in the NL. This team is scrappy, but well-timed runs never feel as certain as a solid offense.
5.02: Closer Alfredo Orduna’s ERA this season. He’s never been a dynamite numbers guy, but Orduna’s early season blown saves have forced the Pads into scoring critical runs to bail him out. He has the tools, but if San Diego expects to build on their 9-4 record in one-run contests, he’ll need to step up his performance.
.197: John Yancey’s batting average. But despite aspiring to the Mendoza Line, Yancey leads the team with an .860 OPS. He’s clubbed 11 homers – good enough for third in the NL – and his slick fielding has given him the chance to work his way into another terrific season.
.599: Mike Fitzgerald’s OPS. It’s stunningly low for a guy who’s hovered above .900 the past couple seasons. The Big Steal needs to turn it around if San Diego wants to improve its offense without a trade.
Key questions for Colorado:
Your platoon-heavy lineup seems to emulate a certain dominant NL Central team. Was this a strategy, or something you noticed as players developed and decided to lean into it?
Riley Pint is just about ready to come back. How do you plan to slot him into your staff?
You have the third-best run differential in the division, despite your half-game lead. Is your plan to let the chips fall where they may, or are you looking to make some moves?
Key questions for San Diego:
Mike Fitzgerald is ice cold. Does he need time off? Or is it reps, reps, reps until he’s back to normal?
Will you look to improve your offense through a trade, or are there internal tweaks you’d rather make?
Adrian Morejon’s having a solid year. With two years guaranteed after this, how do you feel about his contract relative to salaries across the league?
