Colorado Rockies game no. 154 thread: Alex Wood vs Peter Lambert

Peter Lambert makes his first MLB start in over a year versus the first-place Giants

The Colorado Rockies, trying to keep the Giants from winning their 100th game this season, will rely on Peter Lambert as he makes his first major league start since 2019.

Lambert (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has been out of action due to a Tommy John surgery. In his recent rehab starts in the Rockies’ minor league systems, he had up-and-down success, interestingly had more success at the higher levels than the lower. Through four starts at High-A Spokane, the 24-year-old righthander had an ERA of 5.87, alarmingly walking six batters in his seven ²⁄₃ innings. Moving up to Double-A Hartford yielded more positive results, however, as Lambert pitched to a 3.18 ERA in two starts before finishing up at Triple-A Albuquerque with a solid start last Thursday. Lambert has faced the Giants in the past, owning a 4.50 ERA and allowing 12 hits in as many innings.

The Giants, meanwhile, begin this series with the Rockies desperate to keep hold of first place in the National League West division. With the Dodgers hot on their heels, they’ll look to a former Los Angeles starter in Alex Wood (10-4, 3.99 ERA). Wood recently returned from a bout with COVID-19 and has pitched just once since he’s been back, going three innings against the Braves last Saturday and allowing no hits, runs, or walks while striking out four. Wood has struggled against the Rockies in the past, owning a 5.73 ERA in his 18 games versus Colorado, though he’s also been able to miss bats, notching 70 strikeouts over 77 innings.

The Giants have seen Lambert fairly well in the past. Alex Dickerson and Steven Duggar are both 2-for-3, and Mike Yastrzemski is 2-for-4 with a home run. Buster Posey has two hits in five tries, and Kris Bryant is 1-for-4. Brandon Belt, meanwhile, has no hits in six attempts. For the Rockies, there’s some mild-to-great success versus Alex Wood. Yonathan Daza, Ryan McMahon, and Trevor Story are all hitting .286 in their tries, and Raimel Tapia’s at .250 through eight ABs. Charlie Blackmon absolutely owns the lefty, rocking a .533 average in 15 at-bats.

First Pitch: 6:10 p.m. MDT

• The Giants are currently just one game ahead of the Dodgers, who play the Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:40 MDT

TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (COL), Spectrum SportsNet LA (LAD), MLB.tv

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

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