The Colorado Rockies are desperately trying to avoid being swept by the Chicago White Sox in their final home series before the All-Star break. Having lost all 13 home series at Coors Field this season, and 15 straight going back to last year, the 20-69 Rockies are looking to salvage some pride against the only slightly better 30-59 White Sox.
Rookie Duel: Dollander Seeks Redemption
Taking the mound for the Rockies is rookie right-hander Chase Dollander. Dollander is aiming for a much-needed rebound after a disastrous outing his last time out against the Houston Astros. In that start, he only lasted 2 2/3 innings, his shortest appearance of the season, giving up six earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He also managed only one strikeout.
Dollander's struggles with strikeouts have been a recurring theme lately, with two or fewer in four of his last six starts. He's also been prone to giving up home runs, allowing at least one in four of those same six games. The Rockies are hoping he can turn things around and provide a quality start.
Smith Shines for the White Sox
Opposing Dollander is right-handed rookie Shane Smith, a Wake Forest product pitching for the White Sox. Selected in the Rule-5 draft from the Milwaukee Brewers, Smith has been a consistent contributor in his debut season. He boasts a 3.86 ERA through his first 16 starts, striking out an impressive 74 batters in 79 1/3 innings.
Smith's arsenal is highlighted by a strong 95 MPH four-seam fastball with excellent run value, making it a tough pitch for batters to handle. He complements his fastball with a solid array of secondary pitches, including a changeup with a remarkable 33.2 inches of vertical drop and a 12-6 curveball that boasts a 43.3% whiff rate.
Fantasy Baseball Week 16 Preview
Looking ahead to Fantasy Baseball Week 16 (July 7-13), keep an eye on two-start pitchers. Scott White ranks the two-start pitchers for the upcoming scoring period. Notable mentions include Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cristopher Sanchez as must-starts in all formats, and S. Woods Richardson as advisable in most cases.
Be sure to check back for updates and potential spot starter additions as teams navigate busy schedules.