COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
GO EAST
- The Colorado Rockies continue their six-game road trip to Tampa Bay and Baltimore this afternoon with the third and final game of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.
- Last night’s loss dropped the Rockies to a season-low 30 games below .500 … it’s the fifth time in franchise history the club has been at least 30 games below .500, the first time since 2014.
- Each of the Rockies’ next seven opponents, and nine of their 10 opponents remaining on the schedule are above .500.
CLOSE THE DOOR
- The Rockies have lost three consecutive games despite holding a lead entering the eighth inning, the third time in franchise history that they have lost three straight in that manner … the 2008 club lose four straight games when leading after seven, April 20-23.
- Colorado’s losses Sunday against the White Sox and Tuesday against Tampa Bay came after allowing at least seven runs in the eighth inning, the second time in MLB history a team lost two consecutive games in which they led in the eighth inning or later and allowed seven-plus runs in the eighth inning or later, along with the 1893 Boston Beaneaters (current Braves franchise), who did so on July 6-7, 1893 against the Cleveland Spiders.
STEP RIGHT UP
- The Rockies have used a franchise record 32 total pitchers this season, 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.
- The Rockies have used 53 total players, tied for the ninth-most in the Majors and the most players used for the club since setting a franchise record with 55 players in 2011.
GET THE DEVIL OUT
- The Rockies face the Rays for the first time since 2019 when they dropped two of three at Tropicana April 1-3 … this is just the third series all-time between the two teams in Saint Petersburg, with the Rockies losing three games here in 2004 … Colorado is 10-13 all-time against Tampa Bay, having gone 9-6 against the Rays at Coors Field.
- The Rockies are in a stretch of three straight and four of five series against American League ballclubs, having gone 15-21 in Interleague play this season … 13 of the Rockies’ 35 games so far after the All-Star Break have come against AL clubs, with the Rockies going 6-7.
GOLDEN
- Ryan McMahon’s 16 defensive runs saved are tied for the fifth-most in the Majors and are the second-most among all third basemen.
- Rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s eight DRS are the sixth-most among all shortstops, third in the NL … his .986 fielding percentage currently stands as the second-best fielding percentage by a rookie shortstop in Major League history (min. 100 games) trailing Troy Tulowitzki (.987, 2007) (via. STATS PERFORM).
- Rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle’s 10 defensive runs saved on the season lead all National League center fielders … his 95.7 MPH average arm strength ranks eighth among all outfielders … Doyle’s active 88-game errorless streak is the second-longest by a rookie in Rockies history behind Matt Reynold’s 94 games from 2010-11, and is the second-longest active streak in the NL.
- Rookie outfielder Nolan Jones has totaled four DRS in the outfield while starting 31 games in right field and 23 in left … his average arm strength of 98.9 MPH is the best among all position players.
- Jones’ 10 outfield assists are the sixth-most in baseball and the most among all rookies … tied for the most by a Rockies rookie outfielder in franchise history with Brad Hawpe (2005) and tied for the 12th most in a season by any Rockies outfielder.
NEW BLOOD
- 22-year-old Ezequiel Tovar ranks in the top 10 among all rookies in franchise history in home runs (14, T-5th), doubles (27, 8th), RBI (57, T-6th) and hits (116, T-7th).
- Nolan Jones is tied for 10th among rookies in franchise history with 12 home runs … his 19.75 at-bats per home run rate ranks fourth among rookies in franchise history (min. 200 PA), trailing Trevor Story (13.78, 2016), Wilin Rosario (14.14, 2012) and Jose Ortiz (15.69, 2001).
- Tovar and Jones are 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).
KEEP AN EYE
- The Rockies placed five Minor League players in the recently updated MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects: SS Adael Amador (#21), OF Yanquiel Fernandez (#53), RHP Chase Dollander (#63), OF Jordan Beck (#88) and OF Zac Veen (#99).
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #20 PETER LAMBERT RHP
MEET PETE
- Peter Lambert makes his eighth start of the season today, his 22nd appearance … 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 … have appeared in the same game in the Major Leagues.
LAST TIME OUT
- Pitched a career-high tying seven innings, earning his third win of the season … allowed one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts … surrendered a home run to Elvis Andrus on the first pitch of the game.
- Longest start since pitching seven innings in his Major League debut, June 6, 2019 at Chicago-NL.
- Became one of only three Rockies starers in history to give up a leadoff home run as their only run allowed at home in an outing of seven or more frames, the first since Jason Hammel on April 30, 2011 vs. Pittsburgh.
TAMPA 2
- Will be making his first career appearances against the Rays, his second consecutive start facing a team for the first time (also had not faced the White Sox prior to his last start).
- Has gone 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA (15.1 IP, 4 ER) in five appearances (two starts) against the American League this season … 1-3 with a 7.16 ERA (27.2 IP, 22 ER) in eight career Interleague appearances (five starts).
THAT’S A RELIEF
- Has made 14 relief appearances and seven starts across his three stints with the Rockies this season.
- Made his season debut on May 10 at Pittsburgh, his first Major League appearance since Sept. 29, 2021 and the first relief appearance in his professional career.
- Made a spot-start for the Rockies in a bullpen game on July 1 before becoming a mainstay in the rotation on July 21 … 2-3 with a 3.34 ERA (35.0 IP, 13 ER) as a starter this season.
- Did not allow an earned run across his first three starts of the season July 1-26, the only pitcher in baseball during July to start at least three games and not surrender an earned run … his .163 average against was the fourth-lowest in baseball during July, the second-lowest in the NL.
TURN DOWN SERVICE
- Has gone 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA (35.0 IP, 14 ER) in 10 road appearances (four starts) this season … has posted a 3.48 ERA (20.2 IP, 8 ER) in his four road starts, walking six and striking out 13 while limiting opponents to a .221 average.
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
RAY REPORT — The Rays are 15-8 in their last 23 games, including 8-3 in their last 11, following an MLB-worst 5-15 (.250) stretch from 7/1-26…they currently occupy the first Wild Card spot, leading Houston by 5.0 games and Seattle by 5.5 games…Tampa Bay sits 2.0 games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East after spending 111 consecutive days atop the division from 3/30-7/19…the Rays are 7-1-1 in their last nine series on the heels of a 2-7-1 performance in series play from 6/12-7/23.
Tampa Bay has won back-to-back games when trailing entering the eighth inning for the 10th time in club history (last: 7/21-22, 2021), per Elias.
The Rays are one of five teams, and the only club to do so twice, to score 6+ runs in six straight games this year, joining Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles-NL and San Francisco…with another six-run effort today, Tampa Bay would be the only club to score 6+ runs in seven straight games this season.
The Rays have totaled 47 hits over their last three games, tying the club record for the most base knocks over a three-game period…they join the 2000 Rays (4/27-
29 & 5/28-30) and 2018 Rays (7/13-15)…Tampa Bay is one of four teams to have 47+ hits in a three-game stretch this season, joining Toronto (50H), Los Angeles-AL (47H) and Seattle (47H).
Tampa Bay has recorded double-digit hits in a season-high-tying three straight games (6x, last: 6/21-23)…the last time the Rays recorded 10+ hits in four straight games was from 8/28-9/2, 2022.
Tampa Bay has scored 57 runs over its last six games…the Rays are the third team (5th instance) to record 57+ runs across a six-game period this season, joining Texas (3x: 59R, 58R, 57R) and San Francisco (58R).
With a win today, Tampa Bay can earn its eighth series sweep, including its first over Colorado since 6/11-13, 2004…the Rays have not swept a series since taking all three from the Twins (6/6-8)…the Rays seven sweeps are tied with Toronto and Boston for second most in the AL behind Baltimore (8).
THE YANDY MAN CAN — Yandy Díaz has reached base safely in 20 of his last 21 games since 7/30, producing a .391/.446/.533 (36-for-92) line with seven doubles, two homers and 15 RBI…this includes a .426 (29-for-68) mark over his last 15 games.
He has recorded multiple hits in a career-high six straight games, the longest such streak by a Ray since Asdrubal Cabrera (6G) from 8/2-8, 2015…the last Ray to have a streak of seven such games was Wil Myers from 7/13-26, 2013…Carl Crawford holds the club record at eight consecutive games from 8/4-11, 2008.
His 44 multi-hit games this season are tied for the AL lead with SEA Julio Rodríguez, and are tied for fourth most in MLB…this includes an AL-best 16 games with 3+ hits, ahead of TOR Bo Bichette (14G).
NO JOSHING AROUND — Josh Lowe has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 starts dating back to 8/4, batting .365 (19-for-52) with three doubles, one triple, 2 HR and 10 RBI during the run.
Last night, Lowe became the fifth outfielder in club history to record 15+ HR and 25+ steals in a single season, joining Carl Crawford (4x: 2005-06, 2009-10), B.J.
Upton (3x: 2010-2012), Randy Arozarena (2022) and Tommy Pham (2019).
Lowe is batting .465 (20-for-43) with runners in scoring position and two outs, the second-best mark in the majors (min. 40AB) behind only TEX Jonah Heim (.475).
EASY FOR ISAAC — Yesterday, Isaac Paredes joined Evan Longoria (5x) as the only Rays primary third basemen to record 25+ homers and 75+ RBI in a season (min. 75% of games at 3B)…his 25 homers are third most among AL infielders behind BOS Rafael Devers (29HR) and KC Bobby Witt Jr. (26HR).
RED HOT RANDY — Randy Arozarena has a hit in 13 of his last 15 games, batting .321 (19-for-60)…he has recorded an RBI in a season-high tying three straight games…he is batting .284 (21-for-74) with 11 RBI in 19 games this month after concluding July going 2-for-35 (.057) in 10 games from 7/19-31.
He has scored a run in a career-best six straight games, tied with COL Ryan McMahon and CHC Seiya Suzuki for the active longest run in the majors.
ON THE OFFENSIVE — The Rays have pushed across 6+ runs in nine of their last 11 games, averaging 7.64 runs per game in those contests despite being shut out on 8/15 at San Francisco.
Tampa Bay has plated 57 runs over its last six games since 8/16…it is tied for the second-most runs during a six-game period in franchise history (also 8/24-29, 2007)…the most runs scored in a six-game stretch in team history was done by the 2021 Rays, who scored 61 times from 5/15-21.
Collectively, Tampa Bay is batting .388 (47-for-121) with eight doubles, 6 HR and 36 RBI over the last three contests.
In 18 games this month, the Rays are batting .357 with runners in scoring position, the best mark in the majors, ahead of the Dodgers (.328) and Brewers (.322)…this comes after hitting .197 with RISP in 24 games in July, the second-lowest mark in the AL behind the Yankees (.193).
MILE HIGH MATCHUP — The Rays and Rockies conclude a three-game set today at Tropicana Field…the clubs last met in 2019, with the Rays taking two of three from the Rockies at Tropicana Field from 4/1-3.
It marks the third time the Rays have hosted the Rockies…Colorado swept a three-game set in its first trip to Tampa Bay from 6/11-13, 2004…nearly 15 years passed before Colorado’s second trip to Tampa Bay, as the next 12 matchups between the clubs were at Coors Field from 6/15/07-7/20/16.
After spending the 2022 season in Cleveland’s farm system, RHP Kevin Kelly was selected by the Rockies with the No. 8 pick in the major league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft and traded to Tampa Bay for cash considerations on 12/7/22.
Rockies RHP Germán Márquez, who is currently on the 60-day injured list, signed with the Rays in 2011 and was traded to Colorado, along with Jake McGee, on 1/28/16 in exchange for OF Corey Dickerson and INF Kevin Padlo.
Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder was named to the 2007 Red Sox World Series roster, but did not pitch in Boston’s four-game sweep of Colorado in the Fall Classic.
Triple-A Durham manager Michael Johns, a former infielder, was selected by the Rockies in the 19th round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft and played two years for their Class-A Affiliates, the Portland Rockies and Asheville Tourists.
Colorado’s Director of Pitching Operations, Steve Foster, was a scout for Tampa Bay (1999-2000)…Rockies advanced scout, Joe Little, was drafted by the Rays in the 26th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft and spent parts of three years in the organization.
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP SHAWN ARMSTRONG (0-0, 1.00)
TODAY’S START — The ninth-year veteran will make his eighth career start in today’s series finale, including his fifth of the season…has not allowed a run in his previous four starts in 2023 (9.0IP), turning in a 0.89 WHIP…has tossed 13.1 consecutive scoreless frames at Tropicana Field over his last nine appearances dating back to 6/20…at home, has held opposing hitters to a 1-for-12 (.083) clip with runners in scoring position… among major league pitchers with 35.0+ innings pitched in 2023, his 1.00 ERA ranks second behind only SD Josh Hader (0.81).
LAST TIME OUT — Worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning with a pair of strikeouts on just eight pitches in the Rays 12-4 win in the series opener of the current set against the Rockies on 8/22 (1.0IP, 2SO)…fanned Charlie Blackmon on four pitches and Ryan McMahon on three…kept Tampa Bay within a run, 4-3, before the Rays rallied for nine runs in the eighth frame
ROX RUNDOWN — Armstrong has made three career relief appearances opposite Colorado, yielding a pair of earned runs across 1.2 innings (10.80 ERA)…was tagged for three runs on a pair of homers in his first outing against the Rockies on 5/24/19 as a member of Baltimore, but has held Colorado scoreless over his last two appearances.
Armstrong has produced a 0.48 ERA (18.2IP, 1ER) over his last 10 Interleague outings (2GS) dating back to 7/10/22…he owns a 4.87 ERA (20.1IP, 11ER) in 17 career relief appearances against NL West clubs, but has a 0.82 ERA (11.0IP, 1ER) and .139 (5-for-36) opponent average over his last eight games vs. the division since 7/23/19.
START YOUR ENGINES — Armstrong has posted a 0.54 ERA (16.2IP, 1ER) and 0.84 WHIP while holding opponents to a .203/.230/.288 (12-for-59) clip in seven career starts…the Rays are 3-1 in his starts this season and 5-2 in his career…has averaged 35.0 pitches per game as a starter, including 34.0 this season…has thrown 40+ pitches on two occasions in 2023, both starts (7/6 vs. PHI, 8/12 vs. CLE)…this season, he has turned in a 0.00 ERA (9.0IP, 0ER) in four starts compared to a 1.33 ERA (27.0IP, 4ER) across 20 relief appearances.
On 7/6 vs. Philadelphia, he registered a career-high-tying five strikeouts (also 4/13/17 vs. CWS) over a career-high-tying 3.0 innings (4x, last: 9/4/22 vs. NYY).
Armstrong threw 16.0 consecutive scoreless innings across nine appearances, including two starts, from 6/30-8/4, limiting opponents to a .113 (6-for-53) average while posting a 0.50 WHIP.
PITCH ARSENAL — Armstrong features a three-fastball mix, using his cutter, sinker or four-seam fastball 91.1 pct. of the time and holding opponents to a combined .150 (17-for-113) batting average on those pitches…he occasionally mixes in a slider, but opponents are hitting .357 (5-for-14) on the offering; however, all five hits have been singles.
