Rested Austin Gomber Looks to Lead Rockies to Series Win vs. Dodgers
Six days subsequent to being scratched from a beginning because of an irritated elbow, Colorado Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber is set to get back to the hill on Sunday to confront the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies decided to give Gomber additional rest, guaranteeing he would be prepared for the urgent street game against the primary spot Dodgers, permitting him 10 days off and keeping him in his ordinary revolution opening in the MLB.
Gomber’s Return
“No restrictions there. We’ll keep an eye on him for sure,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “But he feels good.”
Gomber’s performance against the Dodgers has been less than stellar historically. He holds a 0-3 record with a 5.67 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) against Los Angeles. Specifically at Dodger Stadium, he is 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA in four starts. However, Gomber (1-2, 2.76 ERA) is coming off a strong May, during which he posted a 0.68 ERA in four starts. This impressive run, along with fellow starter Cal Quantrill, helped spark a surge that saw the Rockies win 13 of 20 games heading into Saturday’s contest against the Dodgers.
Rockies’ Strategy and Performance
“We kept (the rotation) on their regular day,” Black explained. “All the other guys felt good, so we just gave (Gomber) the maximum rest to make sure the elbow felt good.”
Cal Quantrill’s recent hot streak ended on Saturday when he surrendered four runs in just 4 1/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers. This marked his most runs allowed since April 27 and the highest number of hits given up since his season debut. It was only the second time he failed to deliver at least five innings this season.
Ezequiel Tovar has been a standout for the Rockies, recording three hits in each of the first two games of the series. Tovar has multiple hits in six of his last nine games, achieving three or more hits seven times this season. “Our confidence is always there whether we win or lose,” Tovar said through an interpreter. “We have to maintain that level of confidence no matter what we do and go out and compete and do what we do best.”
The Rockies won the series opener on Friday with a score of 4-1.
Dodgers’ Counter
The Dodgers will counter with right-hander Gavin Stone (5-2, 3.16 ERA), who has been in great structure recently. Stone flaunts a 2.20 ERA over his beyond eight beginnings and a 1.97 Time in five May games, where he went 3-1. Stone’s best beginning of the time came on Tuesday against the New York Mets, where he conveyed seven scoreless innings, permitting just three hits.
“Gavin was fantastic. He really was,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “(The Mets) didn’t threaten at all. Got a lot of quick outs, with swing and miss. His command with the fastball at the bottom of the zone was good all night long. Mixed in a lot of good changeups.”
Stone will be facing the Rockies for the first time, adding an element of unpredictability to the MLB matchup.
Key Players to Watch
While the Dodgers have experienced success recently, Mookie Betts has struggled. Betts is 0-for-9 in the current series and 0-for-13 over his past three games, with just two home runs since April 13. However, other players have stepped up. Shohei Ohtani stole his 100th career base on Saturday, and Will Smith, who hit an RBI double, has five extra-base hits over his last four games.
Conclusion
As the Rockies intend to get a series win, much will rely upon Austin Gomber’s capacity to proceed with his new structure and handle the strong Dodgers setup. With Gavin Stone pitching for Los Angeles, the game vows to be a firmly challenged fight in the MLB. The Rockies’ certainty and late execution, especially from players like Ezequiel Tovar, will be significant in conquering the Dodgers’ imposing home presence. Sunday’s down is set to be an astonishing and critical matchup for the two groups in the MLB.