Giants at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies look to begin turning things around against National League West foes when they host the San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their rain-shortened, two-game series. The Rockies dropped to 4-9 against division rivals with Tuesday's 14-4 setback against the Giants - their third loss in four overall games - before Wednesday's scheduled contest was postponed by rain.
The Rockies have scored 45 times over their last six games, with Charlie Blackmon recording seven extra-base hits in that stretch and Nolan Arenado going 14-for-30 with three homers over his last seven contests, but the pitching staff has allowed 40 runs in the last four games. Kyle Freeland will start the series finale for Colorado and San Francisco will counter with Derek Holland, who is expected to return after missing one start due to a finger injury. The Giants, who are 9-9 against the NL West, have won four of their last six overall games after totaling 16 hits in the series opener. Joe Panik brings an eight-game hitting streak (11-for-36) into Thursday's matchup, Steven Duggar has hit safely in six straight contests (11-for-24) and Brandon Crawford is in the midst of a five-game run (7-for-18).
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Derek Holland (1-4, 5.34 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (2-5, 5.90)
Holland suffered through his worst start of the season on April 27, when he allowed six runs, six hits and three walks over five innings of a 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees. The 32-year-old native of Ohio has registered 40 strikeouts across 32 frames this year but has yielded at least one home run in each start. Arenado is 4-for-10 with two home runs versus Holland, who is 1-3 with a 6.18 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies - 1-1, 10.00 ERA in two turns at Coors Field - after permitting four runs in six innings of a 4-0 loss on April 14 in San Francisco.
Freeland was pounded in each of his last two starts after returning from the injured list, permitting 13 runs and 15 hits - five homers - across 12 innings in losses to Arizona and Milwaukee. The 28-year-old native of Denver limited Philadelphia to two hits in six scoreless frames to record the victory before sitting out 11 days with a blister. Buster Posey is 6-for-19 with two doubles and a homer against Freeland, who suffered a loss at San Francisco on April 13 after yielding three runs in five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 3B Evan Longoria is 5-for-8 with five runs scored, two homers, three RBIs and three walks in his last two games with an at-bat.
2. Colorado C Chris Iannetta is 5-for-11 with two doubles and a homer in his last three contests with an at-bat.
3. Wednesday's postponed game will be made up on July 15 as part of a split doubleheader.