Colorado Rockies game no. 31: Kyle Freeland vs. Justin Verlander

Can April showers bring May flowers for the Rockies?

After a miserable month of games in March/April, the Colorado Rockies (5-25) sit at the bottom of baseball with one of the worst starts in baseball history. As the calendar now flips to May, the hope is that the last month’s showers will start to bring about some flourishing for the Rockies.

Unfortunately, the Rockies start the month with a trip to unfriendly territory as they square off against the San Francisco Giants (19-12).

Kyle Freeland (0-4, 5.93) has struggled with blisters on his hand as well as a lack of run support while getting hit hard by opposing teams. In his last outing against the Reds, he went 4 ¹⁄₃ innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits. He’s done well keeping walks down this season and had a moderate amount of strikeouts, but opponents have a career-high .310 average against him. The Giants aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders offensively, but they are still dangerous against the Rockies.

The Giants counter with Justin Verlander (0-2, 4.70 ERA), the future Hall of Famer. Verlander has been off to a bit of a slower start this season. The 42-year-old has worked at least five innings in all but one of his six starts, but he’s given up multiple runs in most of them. However, over his last two outings, he’s looked like the Verlander of old as he’s allowed just two earned runs over 12 innings. He can still get plenty of strikeouts and won’t many, meaning the Rockies are going to have to take advantage of what’s given to them.

First Pitch: 7:45 p.m. MT

TV: Rockies.tv

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

Lineups:

★ ★ ★

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!