Today marks Opening Day 2.0 at Coors Field, where a full-capacity crowd of 50,398 fans will be allowed in the stands for the first time since September 29, 2019. After another road trip that saw the Rox pick up their sixth road win (a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on June 23) and subsequently get swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, the team will look to get back on track at home once again with seven games against the Pirates and Cardinals.
Old friend Tyler Anderson will take the mound for the Pirates (29-47). The former Rockies’ first-rounder has made 14 starts for the Bucs and recorded at 3-7 record and a 4.82 ERA. His last victory came in May 9 against the Cubs and in his last outing, he pitched 6 2⁄3 innings against the White Sox, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk. In each of his last three starts, Anderson has allowed at least one home run and has only not yielded one three times in 14 games (14 total in 14 games). Considering that he’s pitching at Coors Field on a sunny afternoon, that could certainly be something to watch.
He will go up against Kyle Freeland, who pitched arguably his best game in his last start against the Mariners on June 22. Freeland is 0-2 with a 7.76 ERA in six starts this year since his shoulder injury postponed his season. Unfortunately, he has been closer to 2019 Kyle Freeland than 2020 Kyle Freeland, allowing nine home runs in his six games. But with him pitching six innings of one-run ball in Seattle with seven strikeouts, hopefully that’s a sign that he’s turning a corner.
First Pitch: 3:10 PM MDT
TV: AT&T Sports Net Rocky Mountain; MLB.tv
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Lineups:
In Colorado for three.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/OQTcwalS2z
— Adam Frazier Stan Account (@Pirates) June 28, 2021
The Opening Day 2.0 Starting Nine pic.twitter.com/xbrVqCAcsH
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 28, 2021