Colorado Rockies game no. 89 thread: Seth Lugo vs. Austin Gomber

The Rockies will look to win the series tonight

The Colorado Rockies (31-57) continue their homestand this evening with Game 2 of a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals (48-42). It is the final homestand of the first half, and the Rox took Game 1 last night by a score of 4-2. The Rockies are 19-18 against teams with winning percentages at or above .500 this season, but are 12-39 with teams under .500. Their .352 winning percentage is tied with the 2005 club for the worst through the first 88 games in franchise history.

Many of their games have been decided late. They have gone 11-14 in games decided in the last at-bat, and have an MLB-most 11 games ended via walk-off (Rox are 6-5 in such instances). Three of the Rockies’ last six wins since June 19 have come via a walk-off event, and five of their last six wins have come in the last at-bat (including three walk-off wins). However, they have also lost seven times this year when entering the ninth inning with a lead — the most such losses in MLB.

Austin Gomber (1-5, 4.72 ERA) will take the ball for the Rockies. In his last outing against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, Gomber took the no-decision in the Rockies’ 8-7 victory. He allowed four runs on nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts. After an outstanding May, Gomber did fall back to Earth in June, going 0-3 with a 9.39 ERA in five starts (all Rockies’ losses). He has faced the Royals five times (four starts) in his career, and holds a 2-0 record with a 2.11 ERA. His last start against them was on June 3, 2023 at Kauffman Stadium, where he exited in the third inning after allowing two runs on six hits over just 2 ²⁄₃ innings. He also walked three and struck out four.

Gomber will face Royals’ veteran lefty Seth Lugo (11-2, 2.17 ERA), who signed a two-year deal with the Royals in the offseason after spending seven years with the New York Mets and the 2023 season with the San Diego Padres. In his last outing against the Cleveland Guardians, Lugo pitched six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and one walk while striking out 10 in the 6-2 victory. Lugo has faced the Rockies 12 times (5 starts) and holds a 3-0 record and 2.68 ERA. His last start at Coors Field came on July 31, 2023 when he yielded three runs (two earned) in seven innings with nine strikeouts in the Padres 4-3 loss.

Can the Rockies win the series tonight?

First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. MT

TV: Rockies.tv

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

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