The Colorado Rockies hope a new series will breathe new life into them after splitting evenly a four-game series with the Washington Nationals to end last week. They travel to Cincinnati for a four-game series to start the week.
The Rockies face Homer Bailey (6-5, 4.30 ERA), who at one point was rumored to be one of the players the Reds were willing to part with in a trade for Ubaldo Jimenez. However, the Cleveland Indians swooped in and traded for the pitcher. Bailey missed the first month of the season due to a shoulder injury that emerged during spring training. After a month in the Reds' rotation, Bailey hurt his shoulder again and missed most of June.
Since June 26, the day of his return, Bailey has made seven starts. There's been mixed success over that time. Two starts before Monday's Bailey was lit up for nine runs in four innings by the New York Mets. He came back on Aug. 2 with eight innings of one-run ball against the Astros. Bailey is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies
Jason Hammel (6-11, 4.88 ERA) has yet to find a rhythm this season, unless one considers a decent starts thrown in between horrendous ones a rhythm. In July, Hammel had allowed at least six runs in three of his five starts. He closed out the month with a strong 6-1/3 innings against the Padres by allowing just two runs. Then the Philadelphia Phillies came to Denver and knocked him around for six runs in five innings. It's just been that kind of season.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. MT.
For more on the Rockies, check out Purple Row. Visit Red Reporter for more on the Reds.