dailyloe.com – The Colorado Rockies, with a record of 17-27, are set to host the Arizona Diamondbacks, who stand at 20-22, at Coors Field. This matchup begins a six-game homestand for the Rockies following a challenging road trip through Pennsylvania. They finished with a 2-4 record, suffering a 7-2 defeat against the Pirates, which has raised concerns regarding pitcher Chase Dollander, who left the game early and has since been placed on the 15-day injured list due to an elbow strain.
The Rockies are attempting to end a rough streak in May, currently holding a 3-9 record for the month. In response to Dollander’s injury, a series of roster changes have been made, including Sterlin Thompson heading to Denver. The Rockies’ performance at Coors Field has been somewhat better, with an 8-11 record and a .767 OPS.
Veteran left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland will take the mound for the Rockies. Freeland’s current record stands at 1-4, with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. His recent outings have been inconsistent, allowing 16 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings over three starts since returning from the injured list. While Freeland has been effective at getting hitters to chase pitches, he has struggled with hard contact, especially on his fastball.
Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and former Rockie Nolan Arenado are key players for the Diamondbacks, with Arenado maintaining a 118 wRC+ alongside six home runs this season. Marte has notably performed well against Freeland, hitting 17-for-48 with three home runs and a 1.124 OPS.
On the opposing side, Merrill Kelly will pitch for Arizona, bringing with him a less-than-stellar 2026 performance, marked by a 7.62 ERA and a 1.92 WHIP over five starts. Both hard contact and walks have been issues for Kelly, whose pitches have been hit hard. However, Kelly has demonstrated historical success against Colorado, holding a career record of 9-3 with a 3.25 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 17 starts.
Ezequiel Tovar, despite a tough start to the season, has excelled against Kelly, hitting .438 with two home runs in 16 at-bats. While one good night of pitching or hitting won’t solve all problems, a solid performance from Freeland and a victory over a division rival could provide a much-needed boost for the Rockies at the start of their homestand.
