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With the Rockies sitting six games out of a playoff spot and a hot Dodger team in front of them, they desperately need wins, and unfortunately, history says there's no place worse for the Rockies to be going right now than Atlanta. Colorado is just 24-56 in 80 games all time vs. the Braves on the road, and that .300 winning percentage is Colorado's worst on the road against any NL team.
Recent history hasn't been any better either as the Rockies have lost eight of their last nine against Atlanta in this building and have also failed to score more than three runs in eight of those nine games. The second most recent game the Rockies won in Atlanta? Ubaldo Jimenez's no hitter.
Then of course there's Freddie Freeman who commonly mistakes Rockies games for batting practice. In 18 career games against the Rockies, Freeman has launched eight home runs, batted .324, and posted a 1.199 OPS. Here's his much less impressive overall numbers for the Braves this season.
On the mound, there's a pair of players who have had Tommy John surgery in the last 26 months. The Rockies will send Jorge De La Rosa to the hill who has a 2.31 ERA in his last eight starts and has held opposing hitters to a .623 OPS while Atlanta's Brandon Beachy will be making his first start in the majors since suffering the injury.
Beachy's career was off to an outstanding start before the injury as he had a 3.07 ERA and a 9.5 K/9 ratio in 237.1 career innings before the injury. So far, he's looked good in nine minor league rehab games this season as well going a total of 40 innings and posting a 2.92 ERA.
Beachy is replacing Tim Hudson in the rotation after suffering a gruesome season ending injury last time out.
If you want some positive Rockies news coming into this game, Carlos Gonzalez is back in the lineup tonight.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ROOOOOOOOOCCCCCKKKKIIIEES!!!!!
Linups
Rockies
1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. DJ LeMahieu (R) 2B
3. Carlos Gonzalez (L) LF
4. Troy Tulowitzki (R) SS
5. Michael Cuddyer (R) RF
6. Todd Helton (L) 1B
7. Wilin Rosario (R) C
8. Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
9. Jorge De La Rosa (L) P
Braves
1. Jason Heyward (L) CF
2. Justin Upton (R) RF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Evan Gattis (R) C
5. Chris Johnson (R) 3B
6. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
7. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
8. Joey Terdoslavich (S) LF
9. Brandon Beachy (R) P