The Colorado Rockies are in a position to sweep the Houston Astros in a four-game series on Thursday night, certainly a rarity for the team this season. The offense has already scored 29 runs in the series, but there's a sense that the Rockies should be doing this to a team such as Houston.
Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 5.31 ERA) is out to snap a two-game losing streak, allowing 12 runs over 11 innings pitched and surrendering five home runs. The Rockies are looking for him to start going deep into games again following his stint on the disabled list. Before that happened, Guthrie pitched at least seven innings in three of his four April starts.
The Astros send Bud Norris (5-1, 3.34 ERA) to the mound, winner in four of his five April starts. His last outing a no-decision following 4.2 innings pitched. Norris allowed just three runs, but he ran his pitch count up to 166 pitches. In the four previous starts he made and won, Norris pitched at least six innings and made it through seven innings twice. He has struck out 33 batters this month. In Houston on April 8, Norris threw seven innings of two-run ball, but picked up a no-decision in the Astros' victory.
Game time/date: 6:40 p.m. MT, Thursday, May 31
Location: Coors Field, Denver, CO
TV/Radio: ROOT Sports/850KOA
For more news and notes on these teams, visit Rockies blog Purple Row and Astros blog Crawfish Boxes. Head over to Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish for more news and notes around the league.