Brewers - Rockies Series Preview: Third Time's the Charm

YOUR Milwaukee Brewers make their second trip to Denver this season to take on the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series.  The Crew was fortunate enough to miss Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez on the first swing through Coors Field, but it doesn't look they'll have the same good luck this time, as Jimenez is slated to take the ball in the finale on Sunday.  And as an added treat, the Brewers get to see former Brewer farmhand Jorge de la Rosa in the opener tonight.  Around here, JdlR is better known as The Guy Who's Stopping the Brewers From Removing Manny Parra From the Rotation.

2010 vs. Rockies: 3-3, 28 runs scored, 25 runs allowed

Current three-game series:

• Friday, August 13, 2010 @ 8:10 p.m. CDT. TV: FS Wisconsin  Radio: 620 WTMJ
  
• Saturday, August 14, 2010 @ 7:10 p.m. CDT. TV: FS Wisconsin and MLB Network  Radio: 620 WTMJ
• Sunday, August 15, 2010 @ 2:10 p.m. CDT. TV: FS Wisconsin  Radio: 620 WTMJ

Rockies Probable Starters (in order)

• Jorge de la Rosa (4-3, 5.01 in 2010; 2009 vs. MIL: 1 GS, 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 8 SO, 4 BB, 0 HR allowed)
  
• Esmil Rogers (2-2, 4.79 in 2010; has never faced MIL)
  
• Ubaldo Jimenez (17-3, 2.55 in 2010; 2010 vs. MIL: 1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 SO, 1 BB, 0 HR allowed)
  

Brewers Probable Starters (in order)

• Yovani Gallardo (2010 vs. COL: 2 GS, 0-1, 2.77 ERA, 14 SO, 3 BB, 1 HR allowed)
  
• Chris Narveson (2010 vs. COL: 2 G, 0 GS, 3.86 ERA, 2.1 IP, 0 SO, 1 BB, 0 HR allowed)
  
• Manny Parra (2010 vs. COL: 1 GS, 0-1, 3.00 ERA, 5 SO, 0 BB, 0 HR allowed)
  

BATTING LEADERS

PITCHING LEADERS

Since last we met: After taking two of three from the Crew on June 18-20, the Rockies sat at three games over .500 (36-33), in fourth place in the super-competitive NL West.  The Rockies are now four games over .500 (59-55) and occupy third place in the NL West, 8.5 games behind the San Diego Padres and 6 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the Wild Card standings.  They've yet to embark on their customary second-half surge, though, so hope springs attorney in Denver.

Who's hot: Take a glance at the batting leaders for the Rockies again.  Do you need me to tell you who's hot?  Carlos Gonzalez has been a revelation for the Rockies this year; in the last month, he's put up a slash line of .354 / .373 / .708, with eight homers, 17 driven, and six stolen bases.  I'd say we should pitch around him, but he's allergic to walks (only 20 on the year) and would probably find a way to put the ball in play anyway.

Who's not: When the Brewers last played Colorado, outfielder Ryan Spilborghs was leading the Rox in OBP (.378) slugging (.545) and (duh) OPS (.923).  Since then, his OBP has dropped thirty points (.347) and his slugging has dived to .445.  In the last two weeks, he's made seven starts, and has a .160 / .222 / .240 line to show for his efforts.  And, though he's been better recently, it looks like the end might be comin' for first baseman Todd Helton, who's rocking a Kendall-ian .251 / .342 / .325 line in 2010.