COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
JET SETTING
- The Colorado Rockies continue their 10-game road trip today with the third contest of four games at Dodger Stadium … began the road trip by taking two of three in St. Louis, their first series win at Busch Stadium since 2009, before dropping two of three in Milwaukee.
- Colorado has gone 11-14 since the All-Star Break, winning three series, dropping four and splitting one.
- Of the Rockies 11 opponents remaining on the schedule, eight have records above .500 … the only teams below .500 are Arizona (57-59), Chicago-AL (47-70) and San Diego (56-60).
STEP RIGHT UP
- With LHP Justin Bruihl appearing last night, the Rockies have used 32 total pitchers this season, the most in franchise history, one more than the 2019 club’s 31 hurlers … the Rockies have also tied the franchise record by using 15 different starting pitchers this season, tied with the 1993 and 2014 clubs for the most starters used in franchise history.
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS
- The Rockies have gone 1-6 against the Dodgers this season, dropping two of three in Denver June 27-29, losing both games of a two-game series April 3-4 in Los Angeles and falling in the first two games of their current four-game set.
- Colorado has gone 22-52 against Los Angeles since 2019, including 9-28 at Dodger Stadium over that span.
- Thursday night’s 2-1 loss marked the 40th time in franchise history Los Angeles defeated Colorado by one run at Dodger Stadium.
GOLDEN
- Ryan McMahon’s 16 defensive runs saved lead all third basemen and are tied for the third-most in the Majors … shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s eighth DRS rank fifth among all shortstops.
- Rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Month by Fielding Bible/Sports Info Solutions after he led all center fielders with six runs saved in July … his nine defensive runs saved on the season are the fourth-most among all center fielders while his 95.7 MPH average arm strength ranks fifth among all outfielders.
- Doyle’s active 77-game errorless streak is the second-longest by a rookie in Rockies history behind Matt Reynold’s 94 games from 2010-11 … Doyle’s streak is the fourth-longest errorless streak among all Major League rookies in 2023 and the longest active stretch.
- Rookie outfielder Nolan Jones has totaled five DRS … his average arm strength of 98.5 MPH is the best among all position players.
- Doyle and Jones each have seven outfield assists, tied for the seventh-most in the NL and the most among NL rookies … tied with Cory Sullivan (2005) for the second-most by a rookie in franchise history, trailing Brad Hawpe (10 in 2005) … outside of these four players, no other Rockie has recorded more than five outfield
assists in their rookie season with the club.
NEW BLOOD
- Rookies Nolan Jones and Ezequiel Tovar have each hit 11 home runs this season, the third pair of rookies in franchise history to each hit at least 10 home runs in a season, joining Luis Gonzalez/Matt Holliday (2004) and Garrett Atkins/Clint Barmes (2005).
- Tovar’s 103 hits are the 11th-most by a rookie in franchise history immediately trailing Wilin Rosario (107 hits, 2012) … most since Nolan Arenado’s 130 in 2013 … his 51 RBI rank 10th by a rookie in franchise history, one shy of tying Arenado (52, 2013), two shy of tying Juan Uribe (53, 2001), three shy of tying Jordan Pacheco (54, 2012) and six from tying Matt Holliday (57, 2004).
JUST CHECKING IN
- The Rockies made five trades prior to the trade deadline, acquiring a total of seven Minor League pitchers in return, three of whom now rank in the Rockies’ top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline.
- The Rockies recalled LHP Justin Bruihl from Triple-A Albuquerque yesterday after he made one Triple-A appearance … Bruihl was acquired from the Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.
- RHP Alec Barger, acquired from the Braves in exchange for Brad Hand, has allowed two runs in two relief appearances with Double-A Hartford.
- LHP Mason Albright (#22 Rockies prospect) was recently promoted to High-A Spokane after tossing five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in his lone start with Single-A Fresno … RHP Jake Madden (#23 prospect), acquired along with Albright from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk, allowed four runs in two innings in his lone start thus far with Fresno.
- RHP Victor Vodnik (#24 prospect) has tossed 1.2 scoreless innings across two outings in his first Triple-A action for Albuquerque after four scoreless outings with Hartford … RHP Tanner Gordon, acquired along with Vodnik from Atlanta in exchange for Pierce Johnson, has made three starts with Hartford (15.2 IP, 15 ER)
- The Rockies acquired RHP Connor Van Scoyoc from the Angels in exchange for Mike Moustakas in their first trade on June 24 … Van Scoyoc posted a 3.33 ERA in four starts with Spokane before being promoted to Hartford, where he has made three starts (13.1 IP, 17 ER).
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #20 PETER LAMBERT RHP
MEET PETE
- Peter Lambert makes his sixth start of the season today … recalled on July 21, his third stint on the active roster this season … recalled the first time April 18 but optioned the following day without making an appearance … recalled a second time May 4 before being optioned on July 2.
- Native of San Dimas, Calif., selected by Colorado in the second round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of San Dimas High School.
- Brother Jimmy pitches for the Chicago White Sox.
LAST TIME OUT
- Took his second-straight loss on Monday in Milwaukee, allowing five runs over his 3.2 innings, walking three and striking out four.
- His 81 pitches marked a season-high and his most in the Majors since throwing 82 on Sept. 20, 2019 at Los Angeles-NL.
HOT JULY
- Did not allow an earned run in three starts during the month of July, tossing 14 innings while yielding one unearned run … walked three and struck out seven while holding opposing hitters to a .163/.226/.224 slash line.
- Was the only pitcher in baseball during the month to start at least three games and not surrender an earned run.
- His opponents’ .163 average was the fourth-lowest in baseball during July, the second-lowest in the National League.
DODGER BLUES
- In five career games (four starts) against the Dodgers, is 0-2 (Rockies 0-5) with a 14.09 ERA (15.1 IP, 24 ER), allowing eight home runs while walking five and
striking out eight … Los Angeles-NL holds a .461/.506/.908 slashline against the right-hander. - Last faced Los Angeles-NL on June 29 in a relief outing, yielding five runs on five hits in one inning of work.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
LUCKY NUMBER 7?: The Dodgers won their season-high tying sixth straight game last night (fourth time), downing the Rockies, 6-1. Los Angeles is now 10-1 in the month of August and 18-8 (.692) in the second half. That 18-8 mark is tied with Seattle for the best post-All-Star break record in the Majors. This evening, the boys in Blue can improve to 24-13-1 in their 38 series this season as they play the third contest of a four-game series and 10-game homestand (2-0). Following tomorrow’s finale with the Rox, the Dodgers have an off day Monday, followed by matchups next week against the Milwaukee Brewers (Aug. 15-17) and Miami Marlins (Aug. 18-20). The Dodgers hold a season-high 7.5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West following their victory last night and the Giants’ loss to Texas. The Dodgers improved to 36-20 (.643) at home this season, which is the second best home mark in the National League, trailing just Atlanta (37-20, .649). Overall, the Dodgers own the third-best record in baseball (.600), trailing just the Braves (.640) and Orioles (.612). The Dodgers are 6-1 against the Rockies this season and 16-9 in their last 25 games against their NL West foes. The Dodgers have a 64-29 record (.688) against the Rockies since 2018, which are the most wins by a National League team against any other team in that time. As Fernandomania Weekend, presented by Yaamava’ Resort and Casino rolls on, the first 40,000 ticketed fans tonight will receive a Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead, also presented by Yaamava’.
LANCE-A-LOT: The Dodgers cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Rockies last night as trade-deadline acquisition Lance Lynn improved to 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA (4 ER/18.0 IP) as a Dodger. Lynn gave up one unearned run over 5.0 innings while striking out nine and allowing four hits. His 166 strikeouts on the season rank fifth in the Major Leagues, one more than Shohei Ohtani. In relief, Caleb Ferguson (1.0 IP), Alex Vesia (1.0), Yency Almonte (1.2) and Ryan Brasier (0.1) fired 4.0 scoreless innings while striking out seven Rockies. The 16 strikeouts by Dodger pitching on the evening tied a season high (also June 15 vs. CWS). At the plate, the Dodgers collected 11 hits, including two apiece by Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor and David Peralta. Peralta is now hitting .370 (10-for-27) vs. left-handed pitching and .296 (21-for-71) with runners in scoring position.
GOOSED: Dodger right-hander Tony Gonsolin will get the ball tonight for his 19th start of the season, five shy of his career high of 24, set last year. The California native has limited the opposition to a .219 average on the season, which is tied for ninth in the National League (min. 75.0 IP). In seven career games (six starts) vs. the Rockies, Gonsolin is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA (9 ER/30.1 IP), 40 strikeouts and a 0.96 WHIP.
SUPERMAN: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1-for-4 with two RBI last night and is now slashing .462/.523/.796 with 11 doubles, six homers and 20 RBI in his last 23 games since July 17. Freeman was the first player in Dodger history with at least 20 homers and 35 doubles before the end of July and ranks second in the Majors with 101 runs scored, trailing only Ronald Acuña Jr. (102). He also leads the Majors with 43 doubles and 68 extra-base hits while tying for the most hits (158) and ranking second in average. Freeman’s career best in runs scored is 120, established in 2021. On Monday, Freeman was named Player of the Week for the second time this season after hitting .500 (13-for-26) with two homers, four stolen bases and seven RBI in six games from August 2-6. He posted a .923 slugging percentage and a .536 on-base percentage during that span and has reached base safely in 38 of his last 39 games overall. The All-Star is one of three players in the Major Leagues with a .300+ batting average, .400+ on-base percentage and a .500+ slugging percentage, along with Ronald Acuña Jr and Shohei Ohtani.
THE MAN: All-Star Mookie Betts went 2-for-3 with a double, run scored, RBI and a walk last night and in his last 35 gamessince June 28, he is slashing .358/.470/.746 with 12 homers, 31 RBI, 37 runs scored and 28 walks. Betts ranks third in the NL in home runs with 31 while ranking fourth in slugging (.579), fourth in OPS (.967), third in runs (94) and fifth in walks (69). Since May 1, the 2018 American League MVP is hitting .298 (99-for-328) with 27 homers, 67 RBI and a 1.025 OPS. During that span, he is third in the Majors in homers, third in runs (77) and OPS and is tied for third in both RBI and extra-base hits (51). Betts is hitting .409 (9-for-22) with a homer, four doubles, seven walks, seven runs scored and five RBI in seven games vs. the Rockies this season.
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. ROCKIES: RHP TONY GONSOLIN (7-4, 4.42 ERA in 18 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- Earned his seventh win of the season against the Padres on August 7, tossing 6.0 innings, giving up nine hits, six runs, and a walk while striking out three
- 2022 All-Star got his first win of the season on May 14th against San Diego after firing five scoreless innings and giving up two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts
- In his rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 20th, he hurled three innings, allowing one hit, two earned runs, two walks while sitting down seven
- Made one Spring Training start, tossing 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out two
- Gonsolin is 33-10 in his career and is tied for the second fewest decisions all-time among pitchers to reach 30 victories. In addition, his 27-6 (.818) record as a starter is the best in the modern era through 60 games started.
VS. ROCKIES:
- Will face Colorado for the eighth time in his career…is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA (9 ER/30.1 IP) and 40 strikeouts against five walks
- Last faced the club on October 3, 2022, tossing two innings, giving up three hits and one run while striking out three in the no decision
