Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 3 and no. 4 thread

The Rockies are playing split squad games against the Athletics and Brewers

After their second straight win in February against the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday, the Colorado Rockies are playing their third and fourth games of spring training today in split squad fashion. One squad is headed to Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona to take on the Sacremento Athletics, while the other is staying put in Scottsdale and hosting the Milwaukee Brewers.

Game No. 3: Jake Woodford vs Jeffrey Springs

The Rockies will get their first look at the new-look A’s as they head to Mesa. The lineup is a mix of veterans looking for starting or backup roles, and some non-roster invites. On the mound is veteran right-hander Jake Woodford, who the Rockies signed to a minor league deal in the offseason. The 28-year-old played his first four seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals before electing free agency at the end of the 2023 season. He was then signed by the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, but was DFA’d and outrighted in June. He was then picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates on a minor league deal. He made seven appearances (five starts) with the Bucs before being DFA’d in August. Woodford was re-signed in early September, but then DFA’d and outrighted again at the end of the month before electing free agency again. Woodford has historically been used primarily as a reliever, and holds a 4.88 career ERA over 219 ²⁄₃ innings.

Woodford will face A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who is also debuting with his new team this afternoon. The 32-year-old has spent time with the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays but has only made 31 appearances (47 innings) over seven seasons because he’s battled an array of injuries, including Tommy John surgery in March 2024. Today marks the first time Springs will pitch off a major-league mound since his surgery.

Can the Rockies continue their winning ways?

First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. MT

Radio: Athletics Radio (Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast)

Lineups:

Game No. 4: Aaron Ashby vs Kyle Freeland

In the second televised Rockies game of the spring, a squad comprised mostly of veterans lines up behind left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland. The Denver native is coming off a mixed 2024 season in which he saw a considerable uptick on his velocity, but struggled early in the season and dealt with multiple injuries. Freeland finished the year with a 5.24 ERA in 21 starts.

The southpaw is expected to pitch two innings before giving way to Antonio Senzatela, who made just three starts in 2024 after returning from Tommy John surgery. Senzatela is also scheduled for two innings before the bullpen is slated to take over. Tyler Kinley, Victor Vodnik, Justin Lawrence, and Luis Peralta are all set for an inning each, and 2020 third-round pick Sam Weatherly is expected to finish the game.

Weatherly was impressive in late-season action with the High-A Spokane Indians, working 11 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings over ten appearances and helping the Indians to a Northwest League title.

On the bump for the Brew Crew is the left-handed Aaron Ashby. After missing the 2023 season due to injury, Ashby had just 14 big league appearances in 2024. He put up a 2.86 ERA over 28 ¹⁄₃ innings while working mostly out of the bullpen.

First Pitch: 1:10 p.m. MT

TV: Rockies.tv

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

Lineups: