NL GAME OF THE DAY: ROCKIES @ PIRATES

steemsports (80)in #steemsports • 6 years ago

SteemSports Presenter:@thesportsguy

SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets

In today's National League game of the day, the Colorado Rockies will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a 3-game set. Colorado won yesterday's matchup, 6-2 behind a quality outing from starter German Marquez. For the Rockies, it was their fifth win in 6 games as they head into tonight's matchup on a roll. Colorado is now 10-8 on the season, and will send right-hander Chad Bettis to the mound.

Bettis is off to a terrific start to the season for Colorado, posting a 2-0 record with just a 2.04 ERA in his 3 starts thus far. He hasn't given up more than 2 runs in each of those starts, and has surrendered 1 run in each of his last two starts. For the season, he's logged 17 2/3 innings pitched, and given up just 4 runs. He's been able to do it, without a high strikeout count, as he's posted 12 K's to 8 walks. He held Washington to just 1 run over 7 innings in his last outing, the longest he's went so far in the young season. Colorado will be looking for another quality outing out of Bettis today to help continue the hot streak.

For the Pirates, they will counter with a surprisingly potent offense, led by outfielder Corey Dickerson, who's hitting a team-best .351 with 1 Home Run and 12 RBIs. Sterling Marte is having himself a nice start to the season as well, hitting .306 with 3 Home Runs and 7 RBIs. He's also stolen 5 bases already on the season, and has provided Pittsburgh with a threat on the base-paths. Gregory Polanco leads the team in power numbers as he's already tagged 5 Home Runs and driven in a team-best 15. Francisco Cervelli has also been a stable force in the lineup, hitting a solid .286 thus far with a pair of home runs and 12 RBIs.

The Pirates will be hoping the bats come back to life in today's matchup as they mustered just 4 hits and 2 runs in yesterday's defeat. Pittsburgh will trot out right-hander Trevor Williams, who's off to a terrific start himself on the season, as he's already posted a 3-0 record with just a 1.56 ERA. Williams has given up just 3 runs total in his 3 starts, and has been able to induce ground-balls and timely pop flies to keep hitters off balance. He's only recorded 10 strikeouts thus far, but did strikeout a season-high 5 in his last outing over the Cubs. It's shaping up to be a low-scoring pitcher's duel from PNC Park later today, especially with the forecast calling for upper 30's and rain possible.

Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu will look to beat the weather and stay-hot as Blackmon comes in hitting a team-best .314, with 7 Home Runs already on the season and 13 RBIs. LeMahieu is right behind him with a .296 average and 5 Home Runs himself early on the year. The Rockies have already hit 26 long balls in just 18 games on the season, and will try to keep the power surge going later today from chilly Pittsburgh.

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