On Jackie Robinson Day, the Colorado Rockies (4-4) can sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks (5-3). The Rockies have won the last two games on the bat of Todd Helton: an RBI double for a 7-6 victory on Friday and a two-run walkoff home run for an 8-7 win on Saturday night. In the former game, Helton had also driven in the previous two runs on a single in the fourth.
However, because it is Sunday, Todd Helton is likely to be on the bench for the series finale. This will likely be what happens throughout the season, as the 38-year-old first baseman does need his rest. Jason Giambi could draw the start, an occurrence that took place last Sunday.
Making his season debut, on the other hand, will be Drew Pomeranz, the main piece acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. Pomeranz started the year in the minors because the off day on Tuesday allowed the Rockies to go without a fifth starter the first time through the rotation. The 23-year-old lefty pitched one game for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, allowing zero runs in four innings while striking out four.
Trevor Cahill, acquired during the offseason in a deal that sent Jarrod Parker to the Oakland Athletics, will make his second start of the season in opposition to Pomeranz. The 24-year-old righty threw 104 pitches in six innings against San Diego on Tuesday, walking six and striking out five. However, he allowed just one run on two hits.
Game time/date: 1:10 p.m. MT, Sunday, April 15, 2012
Location: Coors Field, Denver, CO
TV/Radio: ROOT Sports/850 KOA
For more on these teams, visit Rockies blog Purple Row and Diamondbacks blog AZ Snake Pit. Head over to MLB Daily Dish and Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the majors