Preview: Rockies at Cardinals

[May 17, 2016]  SportsDirect Inc.
 
 The Colorado Rockies recorded the worst ERA in the National League in each of the last four years and the highest in the majors in three, but are starting to get better results as they embark on a nine-game road trip beginning Tuesday with the first of three against the St. Louis Cardinals. Colorado has the third-worst ERA in the NL at 4.95, but looks to improve on its impressive 3.38 road number while building on its season-high four-game winning streak.

 

"I think guys are starting to set a different standard around here,'' right-hander Eddie Butler told the Denver Post about the pitching staff Sunday after the Rockies (19-18) completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with a 4-3 victory. "I think we're starting to have higher expectations.'' St. Louis (20-18) capped a 4-2 road trip with a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, but finds itself eight games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Cardinals begin their quest for a seventh consecutive season series victory over Colorado as they've won 26 of the 40 meetings since the start of 2010. St. Louis' Jaime Garcia hasn't allowed an earned run in winning his last two starts and opposes Chad Bettis, who won once in his last five turns (1-2, 5.52 ERA).

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chad Bettis (3-2, 4.56 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (3-2, 2.58)

Bettis tied a career high with eight strikeouts while receiving a no-decision in Colorado's 8-7 victory over Arizona on Wednesday after allowing four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old Texan is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts versus NL Central teams Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Chicago this season. Bettis is 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three career games (one start) against St. Louis and struggles with Matt Carpenter (3-for-4, double, two RBIs).

Garcia yielded two unearned runs and four hits while striking out eight in seven innings of a 5-2 road victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday after permitting two hits in seven frames of a 4-0 win over Philadelphia on May 5. ''Everything feels good right now,'' the 29-year-old Mexican told reporters. ''I've been able to make pitches and keep the ball down and keep them off balance. Simple stuff for the most part.'' Garcia, who has allowed two home runs in 45 1/3 innings this season, is 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA in five starts versus the Rockies and hasn't fared well against Carlos Gonzalez (6-for-12, home run, two doubles, four RBIs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Carpenter hit five of his eight home runs this season in the last eight games.

2. Gonzalez snapped streaks of 17 games without an RBI and 99 at-bats without a home run - both career longs - with a solo blast Sunday for his fifth of 2016.

3. The Cardinals have employed 33 different lineups this season and none more than twice while 11 of their 16 position players have made at least 16 starts.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Rockies 2

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