After last night’s 7-6 win secured a less-than-100-loss season for the Rockies, they will look to start a winning streak at home and take the series from the Braves.
They will face veteran right-hander Charlie Morton, who has a 12-5 record and 3.52 ERA in 27 starts this season. After being drafted in the third round of the 2002 draft, the 37-year-old has bounced around the league a bit. He made his MLB debut on June 14, 2008 for the Braves and has since spent time in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Houston and Tampa Bay before returning to Atlanta in the offseason. In his last start against the Dodgers, Morton threw six innings and allowed just one run — a solo homer to Mookie Betts in the fourth inning. He also fanned eight and walked two in the Braves’ eventual 3-2 loss. In his last six games, Morton has struck out 46 batters and did not strike out less than six in a start in the month of August. Hopefully the Rockies offense is able to keep things rolling today and not add to that total.
The seasoned veteran will face a rookie making his major league debut in right-hander Ryan Feltner (No. 14 PuRP). Feltner will be taking the place of Austin Gomber, who was shut down for the season with a lower back injury. The 25-year-old was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 draft and has since skyrocketed through the Rockies’ system. After posting a 0.88 ERA in rookie Grand Junction in 2018, he struggled a bit in Low-A Asheville to the tune of a 5.07 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 25 starts. After a lost season in 2020, Feltner started 2021 in High-A Spokane and was moved to Double-A Hartford after seven starts (3-1, 2.17 ERA). His success have continued in Hartford, where he has posted a 5-2 record and 2.85 ERA in 13 starts. Feltner throws a three-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, slider) and hopefully he is able to out-duel the seasoned veteran.
First Pitch: 1:10 PM MDT
TV: AT&T Sports Net Rocky Mountain; MLB.tv
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Lineups:
Here's how the #Braves will line up for today's series finale in Colorado.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2021
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— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 5, 2021