Colorado Rockies Chad Bettis looks to sweep the Cardinals

Chad Bettis has emerged as one of the best surprises for a Colorado Rockies team that has been full of them (both good and bad). His 2.70 ERA and ability to pitch deep into ball games has been a godsend for this club. It has only been five starts and he has never displayed this level of ability before, but it certainly feels like Bettis has turned a corner.

Today he can lead the Rockies to their first home sweep of 2015 and bring them to within two games of .500. I had given up the Rockies for dead after the 11 game skid in May, but things are starting to get interesting again.

Opposing him is flame-throwing Carlos Martinez of the St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez strikes out better than 10 hitters per nine innings, but also walks more than four per nine. His 2.97 ERA indicates that whatever trouble he does create he usually escapes.

Troy Tulowitzki is taking the day off, likely a scheduled off day. Daniel Descalso will spell him at short stop. Wilin Rosario is getting the nod at first base instead of Ben Paulsen, despite the fact that Martinez is a right hander. Other than that, the lineup is familiar.

First pitch is 1:10. Sweep the birds.

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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">ST. LOUIS CARDINALS</th>
<th align="left">COLORADO ROCKIES</th>
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<tr><td class="td-last td-name">Kolten Wong - 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Charlie Blackmon - CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Matt Carpenter - 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">DJ LeMahieu - 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Jhonny Peralta - SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nolan Arenado - 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Mark Reynolds - 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Carlos Gonzalez - RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Randal Grichuk - LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Wilin Rosario - 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Yadier Molina - C</td><td class="td-first td-name">Daniel Descalso - SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Jason Heyward - RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nick Hundley - C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Peter Bourjos - CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Brandon Barnes - LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Carlos Martinez - RHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">Chad Bettis - RHP</td></tr></tbody>
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