Today, the Giants play not one but TWO games in the field of nightmares.
*shudder*
The Giants head into Colorado with something of a hot streak. Some people are even talking playoffs! But the team will have a hard time building momentum in the Mile High City; since 2017, the Giants have only won three games at Coors Field. For a team playing well below .500, if they want any actual shot at October baseball, they’ll have to win games in places where they just don’t win them.
Jeff Samardzija will take the mound for the first game. He has been playing well recently, going 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last two starts. Can he defy the odds and not give up five home runs today? The Giants lineup will face off against German Marquez, who made the Giants look like, well, the Giants the last time he started against them.
In Round 2, the struggling Dereck Rodriguez will pitch in what will likely be a “five innings or bust” start. He’ll be backed by Sam Coonrod, who’s in town as the 26th man. The Rockies, meanwhile, will be throwing Chi Chi González, whom the Giants beat on June 25th.
But, of course, it’s Coors. Nothing good happens there.
Doooooooooooooooooooooooooom.
Giants Lineup (1st game):
1B — Brandon Belt
C — Buster Posey
3B — Pablo Sandoval
LF — Alex Dickerson
SS — Brandon Crawford
RF — Mike Yastrzemski
CF — Kevin Pillar
2B — Joe Panik
SP — Jeff Samardzija
The lineup changed at the last minute because Evan Longoria has been placed on the IL with plantar fasciitis. Ray Black has been recalled to take his place on the roster.
Rockies Lineup (1st game):
RF — Charlie Blackmon
SS — Trevor Story
LF — David Dahl
3B — Nolan Arenado
CF — Ian Desmond
2B — Ryan McMahon
1B — Mark Reynolds
C — Tony Wolters
SP — German Márquez
Note: This will be the game thread for both games of the doubleheader. Stay tuned for Game 2 lineups.
GAME 2 LINEUPS:
Guys who will try to score 20 this time: Belt 1B, Slater RF, Sandoval 3B, Vogt C, Crawford SS, Yastrzemski LF, Pillar CF, Solano 2B, Rodriguez RHP
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 15, 2019
Let's try this again! pic.twitter.com/N5ReV5JbJD
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 15, 2019