Washington @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2010 ) Washington 2, Colorado 6
Raindrops keep falling on their heads, and quite frankly, the Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies are tired of it.
After a record third rainout in one week at Coors Field on Friday, the teams will attempt to play a split doubleheader on Saturday. Before this week, only two games in May had been postponed in the home of the Rockies.
For four consecutive days rain and/or snow have played a role at Coors Field.
Tuesday’s game with the Philadelphia Phillies was canceled by rain that later turned to snow overnight. On Wednesday, the teams played the first game of a doubleheader before rain and snow showers scuttled the second. Thursday’s opener with the Nationals was delayed by rain and then called after eight innings and Friday’s game was called two hours before it started.
Saturday night's game features Washington rookie right-hander Luis Atilano (3-0, 3.57 ERA) against Colorado right-hander Jason Hammel (2-0, 9.16 ERA), who will be activated off the disabled list after a groin injury has kept him out since April 26.
Atilano has yet to lose and pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings Monday in a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets. He allowed five hits and had five strikeouts. He is an unknown to the Rockies and will be making his first start against them.
Hammel has been solid for most of his innings this season, but has had some innings where he has been clubbed. He gave up four runs in the third inning April 21 against the Nationals, but got a no-decision. Against Atlanta on April 16, he last just 1 1/3 innings and was charged with seven runs on eight hits. Innings like those have been a killer for Hammel.
Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham are each 4-for-10 against Hammel in their careers. In the April 21 game, Ryan Zimmerman was 2-for-3 with a double off Hammel.
Washington starting right-hander Jason Marquis underwent successful surgery Friday to remove bone chips from his elbow. He is not expected to return to the majors for two months.
Marquis will begin rehabbing the elbow immediately and should be able to pitch in the minors later next month.
Marquis has been one of the bigger disappointments for an upstart Nationals team. He is 0-3 with a 20.52 ERA, but the Nationals hope most of that was because of his elbow problems.