After splitting a two-game series with the Phillies, the Colorado Rockies head to Milwaukee for a three-game series with the Brewers. The Rockies enter this series with a win over the Phillies on Thursday after Jason Giambi hit three home runs and drove in seven runs.
The Rockies will have a question mark next to Carlos Gonzalez after he left Thursday's game with tightness in his left groin. His status for this series has not yet been announced. The Brewers' star outfielder, Ryan Braun, left Thursday's game against the Padres with a sore shoulder, but the injury is not considered serious. In 28 career games against the Rockies, Braun has hit .380/.447/.648 with six homers and 20 RBI. He has been helped by a .438 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), well above average.
Jason Hammel will look to rebound from two straight losses, including an 8-2 loss to the Padres on May 15. In that start, Hammel was burned by a Ryan Ludwick three-run homer in the fourth inning and then seventh-inning troubles. After an initial foul out by Ludwick, three straight singles led Jim Tracy to pull Hammel and send out Franklin Morales. He allowed an RBI double and gave way to Felipe Paulino, who gave up three more runs.
Zack Greinke will make just his fourth start of the season after suffering a rib injury earlier in the year. He's allowed 12 runs in 15 innings, but has 20 strikeouts and two walks in that span. When he was with the Royals, Greinke made two starts against the Rockies. The first, in 2008, saw him strike out 10 Rockies and allow three runs in six innings. On May 23, 2010, the Rockies chased Greinke out of the game after 3.1 innings when he allowed eight runs.
Expected Pitching Matchups
Friday, May 20, 6:10 p.m. MT, ROOT
Jason Hammel vs. Zack Greinke
Saturday, May 21, 5:10 p.m. MT, No TV
Clayton Mortensen vs. Shaun Marcum
Saturday, May 22, 12:10 p.m. MT, ROOT
Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Randy Wolf
For more on the Rockies, Purple Row is your destination. Brew Crew Ball has more on the Brewers.