Game Preview: Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies (Game 2)

Tuesday, August 24 – 8:40 (SportSouth)
Atlanta Braves (73-52) vs. Colorado Rockies (64-60)

Derek Lowe
(4.32 ERA, 3.90 xFIP, 3.10 BB/9, 5.79 K/9, 7.8 SwStr%, 57.9 GB%)
(Career vs. COL: 19 GS, 9-7, 4.37 ERA, 32 BB, 66 K)
vs.
Jorge de la Rosa
(4.74 ERA, 3.84 xFIP, 4.87 BB/9, 8.69 K/9, 10.7 SwStr%, 57.7 GB%)
(Career vs. ATL: 3 G, 1 GS, 0-1, 12.15 ERA, 8 BB, 5 K)

Braves vs. De La Rosa:
Derrek Lee: 2-8, RBI, 3 BB, 3 K
Omar Infante: 3-7, RBI, BB
David Ross: 0-2, RBI, 4 BB
Melky Cabrera: 3-5, 2 2B
Rick Ankiel: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K
Eric Hinske: 0-4, 2 K
Alex Gonzalez: 1-3, K
Martin Prado: 0-2, BB
Matt Diaz: 1-1, 3B, BB

Rockies vs. Lowe:
Todd Helton: 15-45, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB, 3 K
Troy Tulowitzki: 5-20, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 6 K
Chris Iannetta: 4-15, RBI, BB, 3 K
Miguel Olivo: 3-16, 2B, BB, 5 K
Ryan Spilborghs: 5-15, 2 RBI
Ian Stewart: 1-11, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
Dexter Fowler: 2-10, 2 2B, RBI, K

What to Look For:
Whether the Braves can touch De La Rosa. He’s a lefty who throws down and gets grounders along with his share of strikeouts. However, he also walks plenty and the Braves need to take advantage to have a chance. It won’t matter if Lowe can keep the Braves in the game if they can’t touch De La Rosa.

My Take on the Opposition:
De La Rosa’s 4.74 ERA is a bit high for how he has pitched but not a lot. He has a 3.84 xFIP and has a swinging strike percentage of 10.7%, but he is walking more at 4.87 BB/9 and striking out fewer at 8.69 K/9, and is giving up more home runs. One bright spot is a significant increase in grounders at 57.7% along with continuing to have a great changeup. De La Rosa has allowed nine runs in 6.2 career innings against the Braves.