Midway through the season, the Colorado Rockies are 39-42 and just 2-5 over their last seven games (a makeup game with the Cubs was thrown in between the Yankees and the White Sox). They finish their interleague schedule with a home series against the Kansas City Royals. After playing the previous two series in Kansas City and winning just two games there, the Rockies will look for better luck at Coors Field.
However, the last time the two played a series in Colorado was in 2007, and the Royals took two of three. Particularly troublesome in that game was Ramon Ramirez allowing five runs in the top of the 12th inning, giving the Rockies a 10-5 loss. But if the Rockies experienced another loss like that, I'm sure their fans would accept it if, in the end, the team winds reaching the postseason, as they did in 2007.
Juan Nicasio (2-1, 5.08 ERA) hasn't fared well in interleague play so far. While he has received two no-decisions in his two starts, Nicasio has a 9.31 ERA and a 1.448 WHIP in 9.2 innings. In Cleveland he allowed six runs through 4.2 innings and followed that up with four runs in five innings against the Yankees.
Danny Duffy (1-2, 4.61) made his Major League debut in 2011, like Nicasio, and was kept in the rotation recently by going to a six-man one. After losing his first two games of June, Duffy has put together three strong outings (with one minor exception). Duffy was on pace to have the best game of his young career in June 19, but a cramp caused him to leave with only 3.2 innings pitched. He had allowed two runs and struck out nine before the injury forced the team to put in a reliever against the Cardinals. He returned on June 25 with seven innings of two-run ball. Look for a fastball around 93, as well as a slider, a curveball and a changeup.
Expected pitching matchups:
Friday
Danny Duffy vs. Juan Nicasio, 6:10 p.m. MT, ROOT
Saturday
Royals' Kyle Davies vs. Jhoulys Chacin, 6:10 p.m. MT, ROOT
Sunday
Luke Hochevar vs. Jason Hammel, 1:10 p.m. MT, ROOT
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