The Colorado Rockies have been sputtering lately, losing five straight games and eight overall at home.
They won 13-7 in San Francisco last Sunday, and will look to avoid an 0-6 homestand this afternoon against the Cleveland Guardians. Their eight consecutive losses at Coors Field are tied for the second-longest home losing streak in franchise history, with the record being a nine-game losing streak in 1993 at Mile High Stadium. They have never been swept three series in a row at home, and have been outscored 63-35 during this skid while the pitching staff has posted a 6.96 ERA (9.64 by the starters alone).
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Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) will take the mound for the 23rd time this year.
Sugano has been a bright spot for the Rockies and a steady piece in the rotation. Since June 2, he has gone 8-2 across 11 starts, posting a 5.37 ERA with 11 walks and 38 strikeouts since then. His last outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers was a rare clunker, as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts across five innings. He also gave up two home runs — a three-run shot to Max Muncy in the third inning and a solo shot to Shohei Ohtani in the fifth. Since June 2, he has allowed 15 home runs (11 solo) and has allowed a home run in his last 10 starts, matching a career-high. This happened from August 25, 2025 through April 17, 2026 (10 GS).
But, with his 12-6 record, Sugano is also the first pitcher to log double-digit wins in his first season with the Rockies since Kyle Freeland in 2017. Sugano has faced the Guardians twice in his career — both in 2025 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles — posting a 1-0 record and 4.22 ERA.
Sugano will face Guardians’ left-hander Foster Griffin, who was acquired from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline.
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The 31-year-old was drafted in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, and he made his debut on July 27, 2020. However, he suffered a UCL injury just 23 pitches into that game and ended up undergoing Tommy John surgery. He had a brief return to the majors in 2022, but ended up heading to Japan and playing alongside Sugano with the Yomiuri Giants for three seasons. Griffin came back stateside ahead of this season, and has had a career renaissance.
Between the Nationals and the Guardians, he has a 14-4 record and 3.18 ERA in 25 starts. He was named to the 2026 All-Star Game as a replacement for Chase Burns. In his last outing against San Francisco, Griffin pitched six innings and allowed just one run (a solo homer) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts on 101 pitches.
Interestingly, he has never faced the Rockies.
Can the Rockies avoid another sweep while they celebrate Larry Walker’s statue unveiling?
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First Pitch: 1:10pm MT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
SBN Site: Covering the Corner
Lineups:
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