The Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves leave interleague play behind and open a four-game series Monday night at Turner Field

Colorado Rockies at Atlanta Braves

Colorado ended its six-game homestand with a 3-3 record and was handed a 16-8 blowout defeat by Kansas City Sunday.  “That, obviously, was a very ugly day,” said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.  The Rockies also received a scare in the seventh inning when star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was carted off the field after running into the outfield wall.  The club has stated he has suffered a right wrist injury and is day-to-day.  Not having Gonzalez in the lineup will certainly affect the offense, as he was hitting .409 over the last 23 games.  Colorado is 26-31 this season versus right-handed starters and 19-21 on the road.

Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is 3-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 15 starts this season and took a no-decision in his last effort.  In that particular outing, he allowed just two runs and four hits over seven frames, as the club dropped a 3-2 home contest to the White Sox.  Jimenez has been dominant at times away from home, coming in with an even 2-2 record and 2.14 ERA, as opponents are hitting just .135 against him.  in six career starts versus the Braves, he is 2-3 with a 3.79 ERA, including a 1-1 mark and 3.86 ERA in three outings at Turner Field.

Atlanta learned that it would be sending four players to next week’s All-Star festivities, but that did not stop the club from suffering a 5-4 loss to the Orioles Sunday.  The Braves finished interleague play with a 10-5 record, but their five-game winning streak is no longer.  Entering the second half of the season, the club can only hope its pitching staff continues to excel, entering the week leading the majors with a 3.04 ERA.  The group has posted 10 shutouts this season and ranked tied for second with Detroit and only behind Philadelphia (12).  Atlanta is 35-24 versus right-handed starters this year and 26-23 when playing against a losing team.

Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson enters with a solid 9-4 record and 2.62 ERA in 15 starts and has tallied four consecutive wins.  He came away with a 5-4 road victory in his last outing, giving up three runs and six hits over six innings of work.  The right-hander hasn’t started at home since June 1, posting a 4-2 mark and 2.40 ERA, as opponents are hitting just .182 against him.  Hanson has faced the Rockies only once in his young career, giving up four runs and six hits in five frames.

Bettors will likely back the Rockies due to their 5-1 record in the opening game of a series, while the Braves are 2-6 versus the NL West