Seattle @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2018 ) Seattle 7, Colorado 10

Few players are heading into the All-Star break as hot as Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, who was selected for the Midsummer Classic for the first time following a torrid first half. Story is batting .425 this month for the Rockies, who continue their three-game interleague series against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Story homered and drove in four runs while Carlos Gonzalez added three hits and scored three times in Friday’s 10-7 victory as the Rockies won for the eighth time in 10 games. The Rockies' bullpen has been an ongoing area of concern, but Adam Ottavino continued to be a bright spot with two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth inning on Friday. Seattle lost for the sixth time in nine games despite receiving three hits from Ben Gamel, who made his second start of the season in center field. Gamel started in place of the slumping Guillermo Heredia, who grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and is 19-for-110 since June 1.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (5-0, 3.39 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (7-7, 5.77)

LeBlanc won his second straight start on Sunday, allowing four runs and five hits over six frames against Colorado. The 33-year-old has not lost a start since 2014 and has yet to lose in a Mariners uniform, going 8-0 with a 3.80 ERA in 29 games (21 starts) across his two stints with Seattle. Gonzalez is 6-for-18 with three homers against LeBlanc, who owns a 3-3 record and 6.46 ERA in 10 career appearances (8 starts) versus the Rockies.

Gray was the Rockies’ Opening Day starter but was demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque on June 30 after posting a 7.25 ERA over his last nine outings. The 26-year-old Oklahoman is being recalled after two starts with the Isotopes to replace scheduled starter Chad Bettis, who remains out with a blister on his right middle finger. “Jon has delivered many times as a major-league starter the past couple of years,” manager Bud Black told reporters. “We’re confident he can do that Saturday.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners LHP James Paxton was placed on the 10-day disabled list with inflammation in his lower back, but the team is optimistic he’ll be able to rejoin the rotation next weekend.

2. The Rockies placed RHP Antonio Senzatela on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his right middle finger.

3. Seattle optioned INF Gordon Beckham and RHP Nick Rumbelow to Triple-A Tacoma and recalled RHPs Casey Lawrence and Mike Morin from the Rainiers.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, Rockies 3