Rockies and Orioles lineups set for Coors Field series finale
The Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles meet in the series finale at Coors Field on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. MDT, with Tomoyuki Sugano facing Trevor Rogers after Colorado's 4-2 win Tuesday forced a rubber game. Luis Robert Jr. makes his Orioles debut batting cleanup as Baltimore tries to finish its nine-game road trip at 7-2.
Key Takeaways
- Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano starts against his former Orioles club after Colorado snapped a 10-game home skid with Tuesday's 4-2 victory.
- Baltimore counters with lefty Trevor Rogers (9-9, 4.38 ERA) while debuting Luis Robert Jr. in left field and the cleanup spot.
- The Orioles have scored just four runs through two games at hitter-friendly Coors Field despite high expectations.
- A Baltimore win keeps the Orioles tied in the AL Wild Card race; Colorado seeks a series win and a step toward avoiding a fourth straight 100-loss season.
Why does the rubber game matter for the Rockies and Orioles?
Monday's opener went Baltimore's way, 2-1, when Orioles center fielder Colton Cowser robbed Jake McCarthy of a walk-off home run in the ninth. Colorado answered Tuesday when TJ Rumfield's seventh-inning homer broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Rockies to a 4-2 win.
Without Cowser's catch, the Orioles would have been staring at a possible sweep in Denver, according to MASN. Instead, a victory Wednesday would leave Baltimore 7-2 on a three-city road swing that ends before a four-game homestand against Boston.
For Colorado, the rubber game offers a chance to claim the series at home and move closer to the 11-16 finish Purple Row notes the club needs to avoid 100 losses for a fourth straight year.
Who is starting on the mound for Colorado and Baltimore?
Former Oriole Tomoyuki Sugano (12-8, 5.23 ERA) gets the ball for the Rockies. He made 30 starts for Baltimore last season with a 4.64 ERA over 157 innings, per Purple Row, but August has been rough: 18 runs on 26 hits across his last three starts in 12 innings.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers (9-9, 4.38 ERA) starts for Baltimore. He allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings at St. Louis in his most recent outing, though he carries a 3.06 ERA in three career starts against Colorado covering 17 2/3 innings.
Rogers has struggled at Coors Field before, surrendering five runs and five walks in 3 2/3 innings in one career start there. Hunter Goodman, Mickey Moriak, Ezequiel Tovar and Jordan Beck are a combined 0-for-10 against him.
What lineups are the Rockies and Orioles using?
Sports Illustrated confirmed Colorado's order: Jake McCarthy (LF), Connor Norby (3B), Hunter Goodman (C), TJ Rumfield (1B), Cole Carrigg (CF), Jordan Beck (RF), Adael Amador (DH), Ryan Ritter (2B) and Ezequiel Tovar (SS).
Baltimore's lineup features Jackson Holliday at DH, Pete Alonso at first, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Luis Robert Jr. in left and batting cleanup, Samuel Basallo catching, Coby Mayo at third, Dylan Beavers in right, Blaze Alexander at second and Cowser in center. Heston Kjerstad remains on the bench after pinch-hitting Monday.
Robert Jr.'s Orioles debut is the day's biggest lineup headline. Basallo catches while Mayo moves to third base and Alexander starts at second.
How have both offenses and pitching staffs trended lately?
The Orioles entered Coors Field expecting runs but have managed only four across the first two games. Sugano's splitter has held hitters to a .189 average this season, down from .213 with Baltimore, while the Rockies rank third in batting average against fastballs (.276) even as the Orioles sit ninth in fastball usage at 49.3 percent.
Colorado carries injury absences including Kyle Karros (concussion, 7-day IL) and several pitchers on longer injured lists. For more daily lineup and roster updates across sports, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
First pitch is 1:10 p.m. MDT at Coors Field, with TV on Rockies.TV and MASN.