Giants @ Rockies, 8/4

Since returning from his demotion at the end of May, Freeland, who was nearly the Rockies’ ace last season, has allowed 17 earned runs in 17.2 innings in four starts, the worst of those starts being the two home games he pitched.

He hasn’t really struggled against the Giants, though, which feels about right. The Rockies need him to get on track and the Giants need him to continue giving up lots of base runners.

The only time Tyler Beede has faced the Rockies was on May 9th in a 2-inning relief appearance. It was when he was still unconfident, but you could see the stuff. He won’t be able to get much break on his slider today, but that’s probably okay. He’s predominately thrown his four-seam fastball and changeup this season.

If his velocity can reach that next level — in recent starts, it’s looked like he’s lost a couple of mph off of it — and he can mix and match the changeup and curveball at the right times, then it might be enough to hold the Rockies at bay one more game.

RF — Charlie Blackmon
SS — Trevor Story
1B — Daniel Murphy
3B — Nolan Arenado
2B — Ryan McMahon
LF — Raimel Tapia
CF — Yonathan Daza
C — Chris Iannetta
SP — Kyle Freeland

Evan Longoria has been activated from the IL and is back in the lineup. The Giants desperately needed another power threat, and now they have one. Zach Green was sent back to Triple-A to make room.

SS — Donovan Solano
1B — Brandon Belt
RF — Austin Slater
C — Buster Posey
3B — Evan Longoria
CF — Kevin Pillar
2B — Scooter Gennett
LF — Mike Yastrzemski
SP — Tyler Beede

This will be a big test for Austin Slater. He went 2-for-4 yesterday, which is great, but in the games between last night and the pinch hit grand slam, he’d hit just .207/.313/.345 in 67 PA.

Freeland has allowed 20 home runs in 77 innings this season. If the Giants don’t hit at least one off of him, it’s going to be a very long afternoon for them.