Blue Jays at Rockies
With the Los Angeles Dodgers sporting the best record in the National League and threatening to take a double-digit lead in the NL West, the Colorado Rockies badly needed to take advantage of an extended stay at home against a trio of struggling opponents. The Rockies have done exactly that and attempt to tie their best mark during a 10-game homestand Sunday when they go for a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Colorado secured its seventh straight win with Saturday's 4-2 victory as David Dahl tallied three hits and Daniel Murphy delivered a two-run double to cap a three-run first inning. The Rockies, who trail the Dodgers by nine games despite their recent surge, improved to 8-1 on the homestand that has featured major-league worst Baltimore, an Arizona team that has dropped five of its last six and Toronto, which owns the fourth-worst record in the majors at 21-37. The Blue Jays, who have lost five straight and nine of 10, find themselves in danger of their first winless road trip of more than three games since May 19-27, 2009. One bright spot for Toronto in this series has been rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is 4-for-8 after going 4-for-26 over the previous seven contests.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, Sportsnet-1, TVA Sports (Toronto), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-5, 3.75 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (3-4, 5.81)
Sanchez is expected to start after departing Tuesday's game in Tampa Bay with a right middle finger nail avulsion after three innings. The shortened outing marked the second time in three trips to the mound the 2016 All-Star, who has lost each of his last four decisions, exited early with finger-related issues. Sanchez went 0-4 with a 5.28 ERA in six starts last month but will try to replicate the success he enjoyed in his only career start against the Rockies, yielding one run over eight innings in 2016.
Senzatela is winless over his last three starts but was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a no-decision Tuesday against Arizona after permitting two runs over six innings. The 24-year-old Venezuelan went 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA in six May outings but has struggled mightily against left-handed hitters this season, allowing them to bat .345. Randal Grichuk is 2-for-5 with a homer and a double against Senzatela, who is 2-3 with a 5.50 ERA in eight interleague appearances (seven starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. The only other time the Rockies won nine of 10 on a homestand was Sept. 1-10, 2009.
2. Toronto has never lost to the Rockies in nine home games but is 2-9 at Coors Field.
3. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado is batting .479 with four doubles, four homers and 16 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.