The Colorado Rockies are looking to shake off a tough weekend as they open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight. After dropping two of three to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Rockies (16-25) are hoping to find some momentum on the road—but they'll have to do it against one of baseball's most dominant arms.
Historically, PNC Park hasn't been kind to Colorado. The Rockies have lost five straight games in Pittsburgh, with their last win there dating back to May 3, 2024. Overall, they're 8-14 on the road this season, but there's a silver lining: they've gone 6-4 in their last 10 road games since April 16. During that stretch, they're averaging 4.4 runs per game with a .256 batting average and nine home runs. The pitching staff has also stepped up, posting a 4.30 ERA over those 10 games, including a 4.38 mark from starters.
Taking the ball for the Rockies is right-hander Michael Lorenzen, making his tenth start of the season. It's been a tough year for Lorenzen, who carries a 6.92 ERA over 39 innings. He's struck out 26 batters but has also walked 12 and surrendered seven home runs, with a WHIP of 1.90. His last outing on May 6 against the Mets was particularly rough—he allowed seven runs on 11 hits over five innings in a 10-5 loss at Coors Field.
On the other side, the Pirates are sending out reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes—and that's bad news for Colorado's lineup. Skenes has been nearly untouchable this season, posting a 2.35 ERA over 40.2 innings with 47 strikeouts and just seven walks. His 0.71 WHIP is among the best in baseball. In his last start on May 6 against Arizona, he tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven without issuing a walk. That performance put him in elite company—only the sixth Pirate in the Modern Era to pitch at least eight scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, two or fewer hits, and zero walks.
If that wasn't daunting enough, Skenes has a career 1.83 ERA against the National League West. The Rockies will need to bring their best game—and maybe a little extra luck—to break through against one of the game's brightest stars.
First pitch is set for 5:40 PM MT. Let's see if Colorado can turn the tide and start this series on a high note.