Steven v Jeff Hoffman, Lineup & Notes - Holmes Back

Game: The getaway day matinee starts at 3:10 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The Bucs are looking to complete a four-game sweep.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jose Osuna RF, Elias Diaz C, Erik Gonzalez SS, Steven Brault P. Hmmm…Newman down, E-Z in; hopin’ K-Man is due one of Clint’s rest days.

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (3-3/4.06) closes the set against RHP Jeff Hoffman (1-4/7.81). Steven has been Mr. Dependable, putting up a 2.84 ERA over his last dozen starts, though it doesn’t show in his W-L record. His pitching superpower is keeping the ball in the park, with just 8 homers against in 88+ frames. He’s met Colorado twice, in 2017 & ’18, and been batted around, giving up seven runs in seven IP. Hoffman was up and down; and just got recalled from AAA Albuquerque for today’s start. The 26-year-old has struggled in nine starts for the Rockies this season and didn’t fare much better at AAA with a 6-8/7.70 slash. He tossed against the Bucs in 2017 and gave up seven runs in three frames.

Notes:

• First September move: Clay Holmes has been reinstated off the IL.
• Colin Moran has an 11-game hitting streak going into today and Starling’s is up to 10. Marte has hit safely in 23-of-28 games during August, and only once went hitless in back-to-back games. He’s hit .339 over that stretch.
• Colorado has lost 11 of its last 13 games and finished August with a 9-19 record, following a 6-19 July. So Pittsburgh isn’t the only gang singin’ the summertime blues. And does this sound familiar? Today’s Denver Post notes that “The failure of the front office to stock any quality depth behind the initial starters the team opened the season with continues to haunt the Rockies…”
• The Bucs get a day off tomorrow, then host the Fish and the Cards for three-game sets at PNC Park.
• Various reports say that Tyler Glasnow is ahead of schedule in rehab and may join the Rays as a reliever in a week or so.