Colorado @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2010 ) Colorado 2, San Francisco 5
The Colorado Rockies are taking the mystery pitcher approach into Saturday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
The probable starter wasn’t even on the roster as Friday night turned into Saturday morning. Right-hander Esmil Rogers is expected to be activated before the Saturday afternoon contest to start against the Giants in the second of the three-game series.
Rogers is also a mystery on the mound. Saturday’s start will be just his fifth major-league appearance and the second start for the 24-year-old.
He will be starting in place of left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, who suffered a tendon injury in a finger on his throwing hand.
The only start Rogers has made is a four-inning appearance last September against the San Diego Padres. His three appearances this season have all been in relief. Rogers has a 2.25 ERA in four innings of work.
The Rockies are in a bit of a quandary with their starting pitching right now with both De La Rosa and Jason Hammel (groin) on the disabled list. Sunday’s scheduled starter, Jhoulys Chacin, will also be making his second career start.
Colorado also is still waiting on left-hander Jeff Francis (shoulder) to get healthy. Francis missed all of last season but is scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game on Saturday.
San Francisco has no issues when figuring out who will be on the mound Saturday – it will be Matt Cain, a 2009 All-Star.
Cain (0-1) has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all four of his starts this season but remains winless. The Giants were shut out by the St. Louis Cardinals in his last start and scored just two runs in a loss to San Diego in the start before that.
Cain has a 3.80 ERA and has struck out 16 while walking just four. He is 8-6 lifetime in 18 starts against Colorado with a 3.31 ERA.
Giants closer Brian Wilson wasn’t used in a save situation in Friday’s victory over the Rockies due to a minor groin ailment. His availability for Saturday’s game is unknown.
Shortstop Edgar Renteria is also questionable after leaving Friday’s game with groin tightness.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval continues to swing a hot bat for San Francisco. Sandoval stretched his hitting streak to 10 games and is hitting .436 (17-for-39) during that span. Sandoval is hitting .368 on the season.
Colorado moved first baseman Todd Helton down to fifth in the batting order. Helton is hitting .264 and has yet to homer this season. He has just four RBIs.
The Rockies need to get Helton going with All-Star outfielder Brad Hawpe (quadriceps) currently on the disabled list.