SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Giants spent yesterday’s off day in Denver before they begin their quick three-game road trip against the Rockies today…Colorado is the lone NL West team SF has not faced…SF enters the series with an MLB-low two divisional wins (2-7)…the Rockies are in last place in the NL West, posting a 3-10 mark in the division.
ROSTER MOVES: IF/OF Joc Pederson (right hand contusion) and IF/OF Thairo Estrada (left wrist sprain) were activated off the 10-day injured list…IF/OF Brett Wisely and OF Bryce Johnson were optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in corresponding moves…additionally, IF/OF Matt Beaty cleared waivers earlier today and elected free agency.
GOING FOR 9: SF went 14-5 (.737) vs. the Rockies last season and have won the last eight games against them dating to August 21, 2022, which is the Giants’ third-best streak vs. COL in franchise history (Stats, LLC)…the Giants had a 12-game winning streak end last season, and a 10-game winning streak snapped in May of 2013.
HOW SWEEP IT IS: The Giants’ six sweeps vs. Colorado since 2021 are tied for most for any team vs. a single opponent (Stats, LLC)…since 2021, the Giants are 29-9 (.763) against the Rockies with a +99 run differential, their second-best winning percentage against any opponent in that span, behind a 12-3 (.800) record against the Phillies and fourth-highest of any club with at least 15 matchups in that stretch.
HE’S JUST THE OPENER: RHP John Brebbia makes his fifth start of the season, and 16th overall…in Brebbia’s last start, Pirates IF Connor Joe took him deep for his first earned run as an opener this season…Brebbia has a 1.20 ERA (2er, 15.0ip) and a 1.00 WHIP with SF going 9-6 in those games.
TRENDING UP…: SF has a 3.35 team ERA since May 1, which ranks third in the Majors and second in the NL over that span.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT: Giants pitchers lead the Majors with a 50.2% ground ball rate, more than 3% higher than the next closest team (Tampa Bay, 46.9%)…when the ball is put in the air vs. SF, it is leaving the yard at a league-leading rate, as the Giants lead MLB with 15.1% HR/FB…the Rockies offer an interesting challenge for the SF pitching staff…Colorado ranks third to last in the MLB with a 39.1% offensive ground ball rate while also ranking tied for second-worst with an 8.6% offensive HR/FB.
CARELESS RISP-ER: Since May 15, SF has been one of the best teams in the Majors with runners in scoring position… those numbers have taken a hit, however, during the Giants’ current 1-4 stretch.
MIKE’S PEAK: Coors Field has been friendly to OF Mike Yastrzemski…his 1.120 OPS is his best at any ballpark (min. five games), and his 10 home runs are his most at any road ballpark…Yastrzemski’s OPS at Coors Field since 2019 is also second-best in the Majors (min. 20 games) behind SD IF Jake Cronenworth (1.151 OPS).
HE’S NOT ALONE: Yastrzemski is not the only Giant who has thrived in the Rocky Mountains…under the same parameters as above, IF Brandon Crawford’s 1.088 OPS is the fourth-best in MLB and IF Wilmer Flores’ 1.001 OPS is seventh.
PITCH PERFECT: Per Baseball Savant, rookie C Patrick Bailey has been an elite pitch framer…Bailey’s 47.6% strike rate for Zone 11 (high and outside to a lefty) is the best among qualified catchers…his 37.1% strike rate in zone 19 (low and inside to a lefty) is second behind LAD C Austin Barnes (41%)…injured C Joey Bart has also been an elite pitch framer this season, ranking first on Baseball Savant with a 54.1% strike rate and tied for eighth with two catcher framing runs.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: The Giants have 57 RBI by rookies this season, which ranks third in MLB behind Boston (61) and Los Angeles-NL (58)…SF’s six different rookies to record at least one RBI lead the Majors.
COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
- The Rockies begin a six-game homestand tonight with the first of three games against the San Francisco Giants, the first time they’ll play the division rival this year … welcome the San Diego Padres for three games Friday-Sunday.
- Concluded a seven-game road trip Sunday at Kansas City … after getting swept by Arizona in a four-game set, the Rockies took two of three from the Royals to win the series.
- The Rockies enjoyed an off day yesterday, the club’s first since May 18 … beginning today, they will embark on a stretch of 16 straight days with a game before their next off day on June 22, for a total stretch of 33 games in 34 days from May 19-June 21.
FOR THE W
- Colorado has gone 18-15 (.545) since April 30, tied for the third-best record in the NL over that span with the Marlins, trailing the Dodgers (20-12, .625) and the Diamondbacks (19-13, .594)
- At home through this same span, the Rockies are 12-5, a .702 winning percentage that trails only the Dodgers (12-4, .750).
RETURN OF THE MAC
- Third baseman Ryan McMahon had his on-base streak snapped at 12 games on Sunday … had multiple hits in his last three games prior, tied for the longest streak of his career.
- Over 10 games May 25-June 3, McMahon went 19-for-39 (.487) with 11 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, five home runs, 15 RBI, six walks (.556 OBP) and 10 strikeouts, becoming the first Rockies player with 19 hits, nine extra-base hits and 15 RBI in a 10-game span since Charlie Blackmon in 2019 … he became the third player in franchise history to put up those numbers while also walking six or more times, joining Todd Helton (2000 and 2001) and Larry Walker (1997) … the last player in the Majors with a 10-game stretch with these numbers was Freddie Freeman with the Braves in September 2020.
- McMahon’s 1.8 WAR (Baseball Reference) is fourth-best among all NL third basemen … his eight defensive runs saved at third base are tied with Ke’Bryan Hayes for the most among third basemen.
- Among NL third basemen, ranks second in batting (.282) and slugging (.506), tied for second in doubles (13), fifth in walks (18) and sixth in RBI (26) (numbers exclusively as third baseman).
HI, MY NAME IS
- The Rockies have used 26 total pitchers this season, tied for the third-most in baseball with Los Angeles-AL and Cincinnati, behind Oakland (29) and Tampa Bay (30) … the Rockies used 25 total pitchers in 2022, 26 in 2021 and have used more than 30 pitchers just once since 2016 (31 pitchers, 2019).
- Colorado has also used 11 starting pitchers in 2023, tied for the third-most in the Majors … entering the season, the Rockies had used 22 total starting pitchers from 2017-22, Bud Black’s first six years as manager, the fewest starters in the Majors.
EAZY E
- 21-year-old shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is slashing .339/.393/.536 with eight doubles and one home run over his last 16 games and his hitting .284 (38-for-134) over his last 38 games since April 23, raising his average from .172 to .247 on the season.
- Has started 57 games at shortstop, tied for the sixth-most in the Majors … his 1.1 defensive WAR is tied the ninth-highest in baseball while his seven defensive runs saves are the third-most among shortstops.
BABY GOT BACKSTOP
- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz’s .309 batting average ranks 10th in the Majors, sixth in the NL … his .374 average (34-for-91) average at home is the second-highest in the Majors while his .404 (21-for-52) average with runners in scoring position is the 10th-highest the Majors.
- Has appeared in 50 games at catcher, the second-most in the Majors … his 11 catcher caught stealing are tied for the second-most in the Majors … 1.2 dWAR the third-highest mark among all players, the best among all catchers.
ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #32 DINELSON LAMET RHP
HOW WE GOT HERE
- Dinelson Lamet will make his second start in a Rockies uniform today … joined the rotation last week after making 12 relief appearances to
begin the season before a stint on the injured list … placed on the IL on May 4 with lower back stiffness, reinstated prior to his last start on May 31. - Originally claimed off waivers by Colorado from Milwaukee on Aug. 5, 2022 and signed a one-year deal with the Rockies this offseason to
avoid arbitration … was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Aug. 3 after being acquired via trade from San Diego on Aug. 1 … the Brewers received Lamet, LHP Robert Gasser, LHP Taylor Rogers and OF Esteury Ruiz from San Diego in exchange for LHP Josh Hader.
BACK AT THE FRONT
- Made his first start since June 26, 2021 last Wednesday at Arizona … suffered the loss in a 6-0 Rockies defeat against Tommy Henry and the
D-backs … pitched three innings and allowed five runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
SETTING THE TONE
- Has made 57 starts over his career, going 14-18 with a 3.90 ERA (288.2 IP, 125 ER) … opposing hitters have slashed .214/.297/.376 when the
right-hander starts. - Used solely as a starter in each of his first three seasons from 2017-2020 … began the 2021 season as a starter before transitioning to the
bullpen in September after missing time with forearm injuries. - Won his MLB debut at Citi Field back on May 25, 2017 … tossed five innings and allowed one run, three hits and two walks while striking out
eight.
SAN FRAN BASEBALL GIANTS
- Making his 13th career appearance, fifth start, against San Francisco … 1-1 with a 5.22 ERA (29.1 IP, 17 ER) overall against the Giants with three home runs allowed.
- All four of his starts came from 2017-2020 at Oracle Park, where he went 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA (20.1 IP, 6 ER).
- Made five relief appearances against the Giants in 2022, allowing six runs on nine hits across 6.2 innings … three of those appearances came at Coors Field, where he allowed two runs on two hits, including a home run to Brandon Crawford, across 2.2 innings.
START ME UP
- Made three rehab starts with Triple-A Albuquerque, posting a 0.84 ERA (10.2 IP, 1 ER) with six hits allowed, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
- Tossed 4.2 scoreless innings his last time out May 26 vs. Round Rock, allowing two hits with one walk and six strikeouts while throwing 63 pitches … tossed four perfect innings in his previous outing, May 20 vs. Tacoma, striking out four while throwing 38 pitches.
