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The last time Ubaldo Jimenez took the hill, there were seventeen scouts in attendance, days after news leaked that Dan O'Dowd would listen to offers on the ace. Jimenez handled the event just fine, tossing his fourth quality start in his last five outings and earning the win. Since then, the rumors have accelerated to a power that would make a T4 tornado blush. It will be interesting to see how Ubaldo Jimenez, who has been vocally miffed at the rumors, will respond on the mound against the Atlanta Braves, one of only three teams to register a home run off him in his last 16 starts.
Might this be the Ubaldo's last game wearing the sleeveless black Colorado uniform he loves so much? Unlikely. Will this be the final day Dan O'Dowd considers his club as non-sellers? Potentially, as a loss guarantees no more than a .500 homestand.
Brandon Beachy will be facing the Rockies for the first time. He is a guy that pounds the strike zone, striking out over 10 per 9 and walking just 2 per nine. The Rockies need to the requisite patience of learning a new arm's delivery with the aggression necessary when facing a strike thrower.
If Ubaldo throws 4.2+ IP with 1 ER or less or 6.2+ IP with 2 ER or less tonight, his ERA will be under 4.00, putting him on track for his fourth consecutive season with an ERA under 4.00. There are only three other such seasons by a qualifying Rockies' pitcher in franchise history.
Match-Up History
Braves vs. Jimenez | AB | H | HR | RBI | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
Brian McCann | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .263 | .364 | .263 | .627 |
Nate McLouth | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | .158 | .158 | .316 | .474 |
Alex Gonzalez | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .111 | .000 | .111 |
Dan Uggla | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .111 | .200 | .111 | .311 |
Jair Jurrjens | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 |
Martin Prado | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .200 | .429 | .200 | .629 |
Brooks Conrad | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
Jason Heyward | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .333 | .400 | .733 |
Freddie Freeman | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .500 | .667 | 2.000 | 2.667 |
Tim Hudson | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
Derek Lowe | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 |
Julio Lugo | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 |
Jordan Schafer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
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Brandon Beachy has never faced anyone on the Colorado Rockies roster.