Rockies at Yankees
The Colorado Rockies are in a tailspin and will not be getting any help from the schedule anytime soon. The reeling Rockies begin a challenging 10-game road trip Friday night with their first visit to the Bronx since 2016 to take on the first-place New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series.
Colorado was outscored 40-15 in losing four straight at home to San Francisco to begin the week, with Wednesday's 11-8 loss giving the Rockies a 2-11 mark since June 29. "Not a lot of satisfaction here from the homestand," shortstop Trevor Story told reporters Wednesday. "We are all trying to deal with this as best we can. This wasn't our team. We are much better than (what) we showed." The Yankees (62-33) swept a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday to move a season-high 29 games over .500, including 36-16 at home. They'll give the ball to veteran J.A. Happ on Friday, while the Rockies turn to Kyle Freeland.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (2-6, 7.39 ERA) vs. Yankees LH J.A. Happ (7-5, 4.93)
Freeland was sent to the minors at the end of May with a 7.13 ERA, and it only increased upon his return to the Rockies on Saturday. He gave up five runs and nine hits over four innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati in that outing - his eighth straight without a victory. The 17-game winner from a year ago is 6-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 11 career interleague starts.
Happ has failed to get through six innings in five consecutive starts, although he's allowed just three runs in 10 2/3 frames over his last two outings. He is 4-5 with a 5.98 ERA at home in 2019 after going 4-0 with a 2.72 mark at Yankee Stadium last year. Daniel Murphy is 4-for-10 with a home run and two doubles against the 36-year-old Happ, who is 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA in his career versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees are 13-0-1 in their last 14 home series.
2. Story has two home runs, one triple, one double and four RBIs over his last two games.
3. Colorado is 2-6 all time at Yankee Stadium.