Erica: Iván Herrera’s nine-inning bomb just stole a win from us, but the Cardinals are still in town. We’re breaking down how to stop the rally.
Brett: It was a gut punch. A three-run homer in the ninth to turn a six-five deficit into a seven-six loss. But we have tomorrow night to reset.
Erica: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Erica, and this is your daily Colorado Rockies preview. Brett is here to break down the pitching matchups, bullpen usage, and those platoon splits that define our season. We’ve got Kris Bryant and Kyle Freeland on the long-term IL, but who is actually ready to play tonight?
Brett: Exactly. The rotation is thin because of injuries, so every start matters more. We’re looking at Gabriel Hughes again, trying to keep us in the hunt against a Cardinals team fighting for that final wild card spot.
Erica: Here is what is coming up today. First, we look at the pitching probables and why Gabriel Hughes needs to pitch deeper than usual. Second, we talk about the offense—specifically Ezequiel Tovar and TJ Rumfield—and how they handle St. Louis's defense. And third, we give you our bold prediction for this series finale.
Brett: It’s going to be a tight one. The Cardinals are 70-71 and sitting third in the NL Central. They aren’t backing down. If we want to split this series, we need to answer some tough questions about our bullpen depth.
Erica: Before we dive into Segment One, quick note for everyone listening. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or commute, a small tip through the link in the episode description keeps the show free and helps us keep bringing you this content every single day. Thank you for supporting the work.
Erica: Alright, let’s get right into it. Last night, the Rockies fell 7-6 to the Cardinals. It was heartbreaking. Iván Herrera hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to rally St. Louis past Colorado. Now, we have Game Two of this three-game series tonight. Who is starting for the Rockies?
Brett: It’s Gabriel Hughes. Again. We talked about him yesterday, and he’s getting the nod tonight. With Kyle Freeland on the 15-Day IL and Peter Strzelecki also on the 15-Day IL, the Rockies are really leaning on their younger arms. Ryan Feltner started the last game, which was why we saw that close 6-5 win over Baltimore earlier in the week.
Erica: Right, and remember, Brett predicted the Orioles would win 5-3 back on September 2nd, but the Rockies pulled off that upset with Brett Sullivan’s two-out, two-run single in the 11th. So there is clearly life in this lineup when they need it. But facing St. Louis again? That’s a different animal.
Brett: It is. And historically, Hughes has struggled at Coors Field when he doesn’t have his best stuff. The altitude plays havoc with breaking balls. If he relies too much on his slider, he’s going to get hit. The Cardinals have a disciplined lineup. They don’t chase often. They wait for the mistake.
Erica: So, what does a winning start look like for Hughes tonight? He needs to limit the home runs. That’s been the issue all year. How do we expect him to manage the first time through the order versus the second time?
Brett: He needs to go deeper. In the majors now, if you go five innings, you’re lucky. I’d expect him to push for six or seven. But the real key is his strikeout rate. If he can’t miss bats, he needs to induce ground balls. The infield alignment will be shallow, but with T.J. Rumfield and Ezequiel Tovar hitting hard, any ball in the air is dangerous.
Erica: And on the other side, who is throwing for St. Louis? We know Masyn Winn is out with a 10-Day IL injury, but who is the pitcher?
Brett: The brief doesn’t specify the exact probable for St. Louis, but we know their bullpen has been solid. They have guys like Everson Pereira and JJ Wetherholt available, though both are currently on the 10-Day IL. Wait, no, those are Cardinals players on IL? Let me check. Yes, Everson Pereira and JJ Wetherholt are listed as 10-Day IL for St. Louis. So their bullpen might be thinner than usual.
Erica: That is huge news. If the Cardinals are missing Pereira and Wetherholt, that opens up innings for their middle relievers. That could be a gap we exploit. If Hughes gets through the fifth inning, we might have a chance to blow them away in the sixth or seventh.
Brett: Or, they’ll lean on their starter longer. Cardinals pitchers tend to go deep. If their starter goes seven, then yes, the bullpen is a concern. But if they lose their main setup man due to injury, we need to be aggressive early. Don’t wait for the late innings to score.
Erica: Got it. Aggressive early. I like that. We talked about this on the 4th—how important it is to not let the game slip away. Last night, we had the lead in the eighth, and then Herrera struck. We can’t let that happen again. Stick with us, because next we’re talking about who is hitting and who is hurt.
Erica: Welcome back. Let’s talk about the Rockies' lineup. We lost to the Cardinals 7-6 last night. It was close, but we couldn’t hold the lead. Who stepped up for Colorado recently? We know Brett Sullivan had that huge hit against Baltimore.
Brett: Sullivan is a catcher, by the way. He hit a two-run single in the 11th against the Orioles. That shows depth. But the real engines are T.J. Rumfield at first base and Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop. They’ve been the most consistent threats.
Erica: And what about Hunter Goodman? He’s catching behind the plate. Is he getting enough at-bats? We know Willi Castro is day-to-day, which affects our second base options.
Brett: Goodman is solid, but he’s more of a contact hitter. Against a team like St. Louis, you want power. Rumfield provides that. Tovar provides speed and contact. If Willi Castro is day-to-day, we might see Adael Amador or Connor Norby step in at second base. Both are young, both are fast. Speed changes the game.
Erica: Speed is key. If we get on base, we can stress their defense. But let’s talk injuries. This list is long. Kris Bryant is on the 60-Day IL. McCade Brown is also on the 60-Day IL. Kyle Karros is on the 7-Day IL. And Kyle Freeland is on the 15-Day IL.
Brett: It is a mess. Freeland being out hurts our rotation depth significantly. And Bryant? His absence is felt in the clubhouse and in the lineup. When he’s healthy, he draws walks and hits extra-base hits. Without him, we have to manufacture runs more often.
Erica: Manufacturing runs. That sounds painful. But it’s what we have to do. What about the bullpen? We have Jordan Romano, Nick Frasso, and Jaden Hill. Are they trusted in high-leverage spots?
Brett: Romano is our closer. He’s proven. Frasso and Hill are reliable setup men. But we’re worried about fatigue. If the starter doesn’t go deep, we burn through our bullpen. And if we burn through our bullpen, we lose. It’s that simple.
Erica: So, the plan is: get Hughes through six, then trust Romano in the ninth. But what if the game is tied in the seventh? Do we pull Romano early? Or do we save him for the save situation?
Brett: You save him. Unless the game is on the line in the eighth, you don’t touch Romano. You use Frasso or Hill in the seventh. Maybe even Juan Mejia. We have depth, but we have to use it wisely. No heroics. Just execution.
Erica: Execution. I like that word. Because last night, we executed well until the ninth. Then Herrera struck. We can’t let that happen. We need to build a bigger lead. Maybe four or five runs. Then we can sleep easy.
Brett: Four or five runs is a lot to ask against a playoff-bound team. But if Rumfield and Tovar get hot, it’s possible. Especially if the Cardinals’ bullpen is missing pieces like Pereira and Wetherholt. That’s an advantage we must exploit.
Erica: Exploit it. Yes. Let’s move on to our final segment. We’ve talked pitching, we’ve talked hitting, we’ve talked injuries. Now, what are the keys to winning this series? And what is your bold prediction?
Erica: Okay, Brett. Keys to the series. What do the Rockies need to do to take this one from St. Louis?
Brett: Number one: Control the zone. The Cardinals have a high OBP. If we walk them, we put runners in scoring position. We need to throw strikes. Number two: Protect the lead. If we go up by two, we don’t get cute. We pitch around batters. We don’t give them cheap runs.
Erica: Protect the lead. That’s crucial. Last night, we had the lead, and we gave it back. We can’t do that. What about your bold prediction? Remember, yesterday I said the Rockies would win the opener 5-3, and you said the Cardinals would win the series 2-1. How did those play out?
Brett: Well, Erica, you were wrong about the opener. The Cardinals won 7-6. I was right about the Cardinals taking the series, but only because they won the first two games. Wait, no, this is a three-game series. We are on Game Two. So my prediction was that they would win the final two games. Which means they won Game One, and they will win Game Two.
Erica: Ouch. Okay, so I am down zero and you are up one in predictions. Not good. But I’m confident tonight is different. I think the Rockies bounce back. I think Tovar gets a big hit. I think Romano closes it out.
Brett: I respect the confidence. But I’m sticking with my guns. The Cardinals are fighting for a wild card. They are desperate. Desperate teams play harder. I predict the Cardinals win Game Two as well. Maybe 4-2. Another solid win for St. Louis.
Erica: You’re predicting a sweep? Really? Even with their injuries? I think you’re underestimating our resilience. We beat Baltimore in extra innings. We can beat St. Louis. I predict the Rockies win tonight 5-3. Tovar gets the win.
Brett: We’ll see. But I’m holding firm. Cardinals win 4-2. My prediction stands. Now, let’s wrap this up before we go live.
Erica: There you have it. Pitching duel between Gabriel Hughes and St. Louis’s starter. Key hitters: Rumfield, Tovar, and Sullivan. And a clash of predictions: Brett says Cardinals 4-2, I say Rockies 5-3.
Brett: If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share it with a friend who loves the Rockies. Every bit helps.
Erica: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Rockies! See you tomorrow night!