Rockies at Astros
The Houston Astros made a thunderous move at the trade deadline, pulling off a blockbuster deal to acquire right-hander Zack Greinke from Arizona. The Astros will get a firsthand look at their prized addition when Greinke makes his debut for Houston in the opener of a two-game interleague set against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
Greinke was 10-4 with a 2.90 ERA for the Diamondbacks, marking the 13th consecutive season he has posted double-digit victories. “He’s one of the best pitchers in the league,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. “And he joins a couple of guys, really a handful of guys that are really good." Indeed he does as Houston's starters are a combined 14-1 with a 1.79 ERA over their last 17 games entering the matchup versus Colorado, which has dropped 15 of 23 since the All-Star break. Nolan Arenado homered twice in Sunday's 6-2 victory as the Rockies took two of three from San Francisco to end a streak of five straight series losses.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH German Marquez (10-5, 4.68 ERA) vs. Astros RH Zack Greinke (10-4, 2.90)
Marquez was in the midst of an overpowering performance last time out against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out 10 and allowing two hits over six scoreless innings before exiting because of full body cramping. He tossed seven innings of two-run ball to win each of his previous two outings at Cincinnati and at Yankee Stadium, improving to 7-0 with a 2.98 ERA in interleague play after beating New York. Yuli Gurriel is 3-for-5 with a double, triple and home run off Marquez.
Greinke is search for his first victory since blanking the Rockies on four hits over seven innings on July 5, although he has deserved a better fate after permitting a combined five earned runs during a span of three straight no-decisions. He will make his fifth start against Colorado this season, posting a 1-1 mark and 3.12 ERA that included giving up five runs and a season-worst 11 hits in a loss on June 19. Trevor Story is 13-for-44 with five homers, 12 RBIs and 11 strikeouts versus Greinke.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros 3B Alex Bregman is 7-for-16 with a homer, triple and two doubles this month.
2. Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon was 7-for-14 with five runs scored versus San Francisco.
3. Astros SS Carlos Correa has hit safely in five straight games.