HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Astros and Rockies will conclude their mini two-game series and their 2023 season series today in an afternoon matinee at Coors Field…RHP Brandon Bielak will get the start for Houston looking to stay in line with his career numbers against the Rockies (2-0, 0.69 ERA, 2 starts)…he’ll be opposed by LHP Austin Gomber, who enters today’s start on a four-game winning streak.
ABOUT BIELAK: RHP Brandon Bielak has made 10 starts this season after entering the rotation following the injury to RHP José Urquidy…he’s been solid on the season, limiting his opponents to three-or-fewer runs in seven of his 10 starts…one of those starts came against the Rockies on July 4 in Houston, in which he tossed 7.0 shutout frames, allowing just two hits.
VS. THE ROCKIES: The Astros and Rockies have been playing two-game series against each other since the beginning of the 2013 season, matching up in 14 of these mini-sets, in which Houston has dominated to a 21-6 record…this trend will continue on into 2024, which includes a two-game series against the Rockies in Mexico City, from April 27-28, 2024… this current series in the Astros first in Colorado since April 20-21, 2021, a two-game Rockies sweep.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Astros continue their nine-game, three city road trip today looking to split the series in Colorado… the Astros are 27-21 (.563) in road games, which is the second-best road winning percentage in the AL…after beginning the road trip in Anaheim (2-1), Houston will finish out the road trip with a four-game series vs. the A’s beginning tomorrow.
SIGNED UP: The Astros have signed 19 of their 20 selections from the 2023 MLB Draft, including their first-rounder SS Brice Matthews out of the University of Nebraska, and their second-rounder RHP Alonzo Tredwell out of UCLA…of the Astros 20 picks, 16 came from the collegiate ranks and four from high school…positionally, the Astros selected eight pitchers, six infielders, four outfielders and two catchers. PLAYER OF THE WEEK: OF Chas McCormick was named the AL Player of the Week for July 14-16 after batting .636 (7×11) with seven runs, three home runs, five RBI and a 2.188 OPS (.733 OBP/1.455 SLG) in his three games over the weekend… it was McCormick’s first Player of the Week honor and the first by an Astro since OF Yordan Alvarez in September 2022.
LAST NIGHT’S LOSS: The Astros and Rockies each scored three runs in the 1st inning last night, but it was the Rockies who tacked on another run on the night in their 4-3 victory…RHP Hunter Brown (4ER/5.1IP) pitched well in the loss in what was his Coors Field debut…3B Alex Bregman (2×3, RBI) led the offense, as he reached base in three of his four PAs.
HOT CORNER HEATER: 3B Alex Bregman has reached base safely in eight of his last 10 plate appearances over the Astros last two games…he’ll look to continue this trend today, as he enters the contest as a career .360 (9×25) hitter in eight games at COL.
INJURY UPDATES: The Astros have been working through several injuries…below are a few updates on sidelined players:
- 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) hit BP on the field yesterday for the first time since his injury…over the last several days he’s also participated in infield drills, has run the bases and has been hitting in the batting cages…Altuve has missed the last 10 games and has missed a total of 53 games this season between two IL stints.
- OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) ran the bases on Sunday and continues to hit off a tee in the batting cages… prior to the All-Star break, Brantley had progressed to hitting full BP before a shut down.
- Framber Valdez was removed from Saturday night’s game with a left calf cramp…he is scheduled to throw a bullpen today and is considered day-to-day.
COMING UP CLUTCH: The Astros lead the Major Leagues with a .284 batting average (110×387) with runners in scoring position and two outs…1B José Abreu has 54 at-bats with runners in scoring position and two outs, which ranks tied for second in the Majors…he has done his damage in those situations, hitting .407 (22×54) with 33 RBI and a .796 SLG… with RISP, regardless of the number of outs, Abreu is hitting .269 (25×93) with an .879 OPS.
ROADIE: All-Star RF Kyle Tucker has an active 15-game hitting streak in road games, dating back to June 11…in those contests, Tucker is hitting .441 (26×595) and has reached base safely in 36 of his 70 plate appearances for a .514 OBP…on the season, Tucker’s .330 (58×176) road batting average ranks second in the AL and fourth in the Majors.
DYNAMIC DUO:OF Corey Julks and OF Chas McCormick have been unsung heroes of the Astros offense during the month of July…McCormick leads the club with four home runs this month and has hit .395 (15×38) with a 1.305 OPS and 12 RBI in his 11 games in July…Julks has hit .350 (14×40) with three doubles, three RBI, three stolen bases and an .847 OPS in his 12 games in July.
HUNTING 100: Astros closer RHP Ryan Pressly has 98 career saves, including 97 as a member of the Astros…he’s looking to beccome just the fourth player in club history to reach the 100- save plateau, which would join him with LHP Billy Wagner (225), RHP Dave Smith (199) and RHP Brad Lidge (123).
TODAY’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP BRANDON BIELAK
LAST START – 7/9 VS. SEA: Allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts in 5.0 innings…since being recalled from Triple A Sugar Land on July 3, he’s recorded a 1.50 ERA (2ER/12IP) with 9 strikeouts, a 0.92 WHIP and a .150 opponent batting average.
BACK IN THE BIGS: was recalled from Triple A Sugar Land on July 3; Houston optioned RHP Shawn Dubin to Triple A Sugar Land to make room for Bielak on the 26-man roster.
- is making his 2nd stint in the Majors this season and has appeared at the MLB level in each of the last 4 seasons (all with the Astros)…has settled into a starting role this season after serving in a hybrid starter-relief role through the first 3 seasons of his career.
VS. COL: will make his 4th career appearance including his 3 start against the Rockies…he’s recorded a 1.80 ERA (3ER/15IP) with 10 strikeouts, a 1.07 WHIP, and a .149 opponent batting average.
- in his last start vs. COL on July 4 at Minute Maid Park, he allowed 2 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts in 7.0 scoreless innings…his 7.0 innings were the most in his career in a single game
COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
R&R
- The Colorado Rockies conclude their opening homestand after the All-Star Break this afternoon with the second of two games against the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros.
- The Rockies took two of three from the New York Yankees to begin the homestand, beating the Yankees 8-7 in 11 innings on Sunday, the Rockies’ longest game of the season … Alan Trejo connected on his first home run of the season and first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th … Nolan Jones hit a game-tying two-run home run in the 11th … C.J. Cron gave the Rockies a brief lead in the bottom of the eighth with a go-ahead grand slam … per Elias, it was the third time in the Live Ball Era (since 1920) that a team hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning or later, a game-tying home run in extra innings and a walk-off home run in extra innings.
- Following this brief series against the Astros and an off-day tomorrow, the Rockies will travel to Miami for three games (Friday-Sunday) and Washington for three (July 24-26).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
- With their victory last night, the Rockies won back-to-back games for the first time since winning three in a row from June 11-13 … LHP Fernando Abad won his first MLB game since June 13, 2017 vs. Philadelphia as a member of the Red Sox.
- Per Elias, Abad’s 2,226 days between MLB wins was the third longest span between a pitcher recording a win this season, with RHP Michael Tonkin of Atlanta going 2,385 days between wins (last: Sept. 29, 2016 with Minnesota) and Rockies RHP Matt Carasiti going 2,479 days between wins (last: Aug. 19, 2016 vs, Chicago-NL).
- Last night, the Rockies bullpen tossed 8.0 scoreless innings, the most innings pitched in a single game all-time by Colorado relievers without allowing a run.
PEOPLE WILL COME
- The Rockies drew 143,708 fans to Coors Field over their three-game series against the Yankees, their highest paid attendance for a three-game series since June 22-24, 2010 vs. Boston … it was five tickets higher than the September 28-30, 2018 playoff-clinching series against Washington.
- The Rockies have drawn at least 40,000 fans to 20th and Blake in seven-straight games, their longest streak since an eight-game run July 16-Aug. 4, 2019.
- In 13-straight games since June 23 the Rockies have drawn at least 36,000 fans per game … the last time Colorado had 36,000 fans or more in 13 or more straight games was 2001, when the Rockies drew at least 36,000 in 23-straight games.
ARM BARN
- Colorado used six relievers Tuesday night who tossed eight scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out five and walking two … Rockies relievers are scoreless in four of the team’s last five games dating back to July 9, posting a 1.78 ERA (25.1 IP, 5 ER).
- During that span, Colorado’s bullpen has the third-lowest ERA in baseball and their .172 opponent’s batting average is tied for third-lowest while yielding zero home runs.
- Since July 1, the Rockies 3.10 ERA (49.1 IP, 17 ER) ranks fifth in baseball and third in the National League.
FREQUENT FLIERS
- The Rockies have used 48 total players this season, tied for the sixth-most in the Majors and their most since using 50 total players in 2019.
- 29 different players have made a pitching appearance, the Rockies’ most pitchers used since a franchise-record 31 different pitchers made an appearance in 2019 … the Rockies have used 13 different starting pitchers so far in 2023, their most since the 2014 club tied the franchise record with 15 starting pitchers (also: 1993).
STAR OF STARS
- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz was named the Most Valuable Player of the 93rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Seattle on Tuesday after hitting a pinch-hit go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the National League their first All-Star Game win since 2012.
- Díaz, the first catcher in franchise history to be named an All-Star, is the first All-Star Game MVP in franchise history … he is also the sixth catcher in MLB history to win the award, joining Brian McCann (2010), Sandy Alomar Jr. (1997), Mike Piazza (1996), Terry Steinbach (1988) and Gary Carter (1984, 1981).
- With his home run, Díaz joined Hank Blalock (2003), Mike Schmidt (1981), Cookie Rojas (1972), Gus Bell (1954) and Ted Williams (1941) as the only players to hit a go-ahead home run in the All-Star Game while trailing in the eighth inning or later.
- Díaz also became the fifth Rockies player to homer in the All-Star Game, joining Charlie Blackmon (2019), Trevor Story (2018), Matt Holliday (2008) and Todd Helton (2003) … at 32-years-236-days-old, he also became the fourth-oldest player to hit a home run in their first career All-Star Game, behind Babe Ruth (38- 150), Frankie Frisch (35-300) and J.D. Drew (32-238).
THE ROOKIE, THE FATHER
- Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has begun his Rockies career by starting 97 consecutive games, the longest stretch of consecutive starts without a bench appearance to begin a Rockies’ career, per Elias … the previous streak was 69 games by Trevor Story in 2016.
- The 21-year-old SS has hit safely in 21 of 24 since June 13 (.298, 28-for-94), 29 of 35 since June 1 (.292, 40-for137) and in 39 of 46 since May 20 (.303, 54-for-178) … his .303 average since May 20 ranks ninth in the NL.
- Tovar ranks among the all NL rookie leaders in doubles (21, 1st), batting average (.263, 3rd), hits (84, 3rd), extra-base hits (33, 3rd), RBI (46, 3rd), WAR (1.7, 3rd), games (88, T-4th) and home runs (nine, 7th).
- Tovar’s 1.3 defensive WAR ranks seventh in the NL, ranks fifth among all NL shortstops and leads all NL rookies.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #26 AUSTIN GOMBER LHP
LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF
- Winter Garden, Fla., native is in his 10th professional season, his fifth in the Majors and his third with the Rockies.
- Acquired by Colorado, along with four other players including INF Elehuris Montero in exchange for 3B Nolan Arenado.
- Originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Atlantic University.
ANOTHER WON
- Picked up his fourth-straight win his last time out, July 14 vs. New York-AL … pitched six innings and allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
- Allowed a two run homer to the second batter of the game (Giancarlo Stanton) … did not allow another run the rest of the outing to earn his eighth win of the year … exited the game after the sixth with the Rockies up 4-2.
HOARDER
- Has won each of his last four starts since June 25, his second winning streak of four games this season … also won four-straight decisions April 24-May 23, the only Rockies starter with two streaks of four winning decisions this season … has also lost four-straight (April 2-19) and three-straight (June 9-19).
- Has posted a 3.00 ERA (24.0 IP, 8 ER) across his last four starts, walking two while striking out 13 … allowed two home runs in this span.
- Is the only Rockies starting pitcher with a win dating back to May 23 … his win on June 25 snapped a 30-game stretch without a starting pitcher earning a win was the longest in franchise history and the seventh-longest in Major League history.
AMONG THE STARS
- Making his second career start against the Astros … first start came on April 21, 2021 at Coors Field, earning the win in a 6-3 Rockies victory … tossed six innings with two runs allowed, two hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
- Since joining the Rockies, against the American League at Coors Field, he is 6-1 in nine games (eight starts) … a 3.33 ERA over 51.1 innings (19 ER) … a 0.95 WHIP with opposing hitters slashing .210/.256/.387.
HOW THE TURNTABLES…
- Began his season with four straight losses through April 19, the eighth time a Rockies starter has started 0-4 through their first four starts of a season … first since Roy Oswalt (five straight, June 20-Sept. 14) and Jeff Manship (four straight, Aug. 8-24) in 2013.
- Went 4-0 across his next six starts, April 24-May 23, posting a 3.74 ERA (33.2 IP, 14 ER) with three quality starts … Rockies went 7-1 over an eight-start Gomber stretch from April 24-June 3 (4-0, 4.91 ERA).
ON YOUR LEFT
- Left-handed hitters have hit .368 (28-for-76) with seven home runs off him this season after he held opposing lefties to a .221 average in 2022 (30-for-136), the ninth-lowest in a single season in franchise history (min. 140 batters faced.).
- Left-handed hitters’ 1.154 OPS off Gomber the second-highest in the Majors (1.169, Adam Wainwright).
- Entering this season lefties had slashed .236/.294/.373 (88-for-373) with 10 home runs off him.
