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Michael Cuddyer is not in the lineup for the Rockies' series opener against the Phillies at Coors Field on Friday night.
Cuddyer injured his left hamstring running out a grounder in Colorado's 3-1 win over the Padres in San Diego on Thursday. Cuddy was lifted from that contest in favor of Brandon Barnes, but Drew Stubbs will get the start in his place tonight. Stubbs will slide over to center field, allowing the Rockies to put Charlie Blackmon in right. That gives the team an optimal defensive alignment against a Phillies team that can still hit a little bit despite its age.
The Rockies' All-Star right fielder will be available to pinch hit on Friday, the team announced, after getting some treatment on the hamstring injury. Other than his absence from the lineup, all is normal, which is always a good thing to see when talking about this particular squad.
Pitching in front of the Cuddy-less defensive squad will be Tyler Chatwood, who makes his second start of the season. Chatwood surrendered four runs on six hits, including a homer, in six innings against the Giants last weekend. He struck out five and didn't issue a walk, so that's promising if he can keep throwing strikes considering his stuff is usually pretty difficult to hit.
Jon Pettibone (not the singer of Himsa, though) will be on the mound for the Phillies. Pettibone allowed one earned run on eight hits in five innings in his lone start in 2014. Against the Rockies last season, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed seven runs on 10 hits in a loss at Coors Field. That game featured this Nolan Arenado play -- one that won't be forgotten anytime soon.