The Milwaukee Brewers are gearing up to recover in their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies, placing their trust in left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser to secure a victory on Saturday night. The visiting Rockies, fresh off a win in the series opener, are on the verge of matching their total wins from the previous season, highlighting their recent improvements.
Gasser, with a season record of 2-4 and an earned run average of 4.91, is set to face off against the Rockies' right-hander Ryan Feltner, who holds a 3-4 record with a 5.48 ERA. The initial game of the series saw Colorado triumph 5-2, thanks to Tomoyuki Sugano's strong performance, yielding only two runs from solo home runs over five and a third innings, extending his impressive streak to 6-0 in his last seven starts. Despite solo homers from Christian Yelich and Brice Turang, the Brewers experienced only their second defeat since the All-Star break.
Milwaukee maintains a significant lead of six games over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and is closely trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by one and a half games for the best overall record in Major League Baseball. Gasser's recent outing showed promise, as he effectively contained the Miami Marlins, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings in a 3-1 victory, although he did not receive a decision. This performance marked a considerable improvement from his previous start against Pittsburgh on July 12, where he surrendered seven runs in merely three innings during a 14-5 loss.
Gasser commented on his improved command, stating, “Not a ton different physically, I just executed it better, especially early getting the fastball at the top of the zone.” Opponents have a batting average of .242 against Gasser, who will be encountering the Rockies' lineup for the first time in his career. Ahead of Friday's game, the Brewers activated infielder David Hamilton from the injured list, subsequently designating infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment. Hamilton, who had been sidelined since July 7 with a strained left hamstring, started at third base in the series opener but went hitless in three at-bats.
The Rockies' win in the series opener pushed their season record to 42-63, placing them just one victory shy of their total from last season, when they finished 43-119, ranking as the worst in the majors and 50 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. TJ Rumfield continued his hot streak for the Rockies, contributing two hits in the opener after entering as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. Rumfield boasts a .333 batting average in July, with 21 hits in 63 at-bats, including four doubles, a home run, and eight RBIs in 19 games.
Conversely, Feltner has struggled in his last two starts, conceding 12 runs on 13 hits over six and two-thirds innings. His most recent outing was particularly short-lived, lasting only two and a third innings, where he allowed eight runs on seven hits and issued four walks in a 9-6 loss to Cincinnati. Feltner has given up 14 home runs in 65 and two-thirds innings this season, with three coming against the Reds. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer critiqued Feltner's performance, noting, “Today, I thought the command wasn't real good at all. He wasn't sharp. The walks hurt, and then obviously the homers. The off-speed pitches were hung. Just not a lot of command with the off-speed stuff today, and he got hurt for it.” Historically, Feltner holds a 1-1 record with a 2.67 ERA in six career starts against Milwaukee. His encounter with the Brewers in June saw him allow just one run on one hit over six innings, but he did not factor into the decision in a 9-7, 10-inning loss.
This impending game is crucial for both teams, with the Brewers aiming to regain momentum and the Rockies striving to demonstrate their capacity for improvement beyond last season's performance. The pitching duel between Gasser and Feltner will likely dictate the outcome, as both pitchers look to either maintain or improve their recent forms.
