After two night games where the ball flew far in the Nevada heat, the Colorado Rockies and the Athletics will play their third and final game of the series in the afternoon under the searing desert sun. Temperatures are expected to be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit at first pitch at Las Vegas Ballpark roughly 20 minutes northwest of the famous Strip.
The heat may prove an issue for Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) and his penchant for giving up solo home runs, but overall the veteran Japanese righty has remained one of the most consistent members of the Colorado rotation. Sugano carries a 4.08 ERA into today’s contest and he has failed to make through five innings just twice across his 13 starts this season.
His last time out, Sugano pitched five innings against the Chicago Cubs and gave up three earned runs on six hits—including a home run—with two walks and three strikeouts.
On the bump for the Athletics is left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs, now in his second season with the team. Springs has a 4.68 ERA through his 14 starts this season with 63 strikeouts over 75 innings. He’s coming off of a start against the Milwaukee Brewers in Las Vegas where he gave up five earned runs on eight hits—two of which were home runs—with two walks and three strikeouts.
This will be Springs’ first appearance against the Rockies in his nine-year MLB career. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball that averages just 91.4 MPH and he backs it up with a slider and a changeup. The changeup is his best pitch for generating whiffs, while the slider is currently his best put-away pitch. Springs also throws a sweeper and a cutter.
First Pitch: 1:05 pm MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Athletics SB Nation Site: Athletics Nation
Lineups:
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