Tomoyuki Sugano (4-4, 4.01) takes the mound for Colorado opposite Grayson Rodriguez (2-1, 7.53) at 8:38 PM CT. Sugano is coming off a short outing against the Dodgers — 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 83 pitches — and Rodriguez's last time out was the cleanest thing he's done all year, 5 innings of 1-run ball against Detroit on 88 pitches. The ERAs tell you who has been the more reliable arm, even if the records don't.
Both clubs trudged into this series at 23-38. That's the whole sales pitch — two last-place teams stuck in the same losing club, with the Angels giving back home field by losing the opener and the Rockies somehow surviving a game where they let up 8 runs. Colorado's bullpen has been a moving target all month, between Welinton Herrera moving to the 60-day IL on Monday and Victor Vodnik and Jimmy Herget still rehabbing. Survive-and-advance is the whole identity right now.
The Rockies are doing this without most of their outfield. Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, and Jordan Beck are all on the 10-day IL, Kris Bryant's back still won't let him swing, and TJ Rumfield is a shoulder scratch from Monday's lineup. The Angels aren't exactly whole either — Zach Neto played through neck stuff Sunday, Nolan Schanuel is still working back from an ankle, and Yoan Moncada and Travis d'Arnaud remain shelved. Both managers are essentially picking from what's left.
- Day-To-DayTJ Rumfield 1B — Rumfield (shoulder) is not in the Rockies' starting lineup against the Angels on Monday.
- Day-To-DayBrayan Castillo RP — The Rockies announced Monday that Castillo is dealing with right lat tightness and has been shut down from throwing while undergoing treatment for the injury, TheDNVR.com reports.
- Day-To-DayCase Williams SP — Williams is currently slowed by a stress reaction in his right triceps, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJared Thomas CF — The Rockies announced Monday that Thomas hasn't been participating in spring training while he recovers from offseason surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, TheDNVR.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrenton Doyle CF — The Rockies announced Friday that Doyle (oblique) has been able to take part in some pool exercises since landing on the 10-day injured list May 21, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMickey Moniak LF — Moniak has been limited to rest and recovery since landing on the 10-day injured list May 22 due to right ankle tendinitis, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJordan Beck LF — Beck (hamstring) was able to begin a running progression this past week, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILJimmy Herget RP — Herget (shoulder) was cleared to resume playing catch May 24, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayZach Neto SS — Neto (neck) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Sunday's game against the Rays.
- 10-Day-ILNolan Schanuel 1B — Schanuel (ankle) has started to run, take grounder and shuffling drills, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILYoan Moncada 3B — Moncada isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILTravis d'Arnaud C — D'Arnaud (foot) told reporters Saturday that he does not have a timetable for his return from the 10-day injured list, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILBen Joyce RP — Manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Joyce (shoulder) has resumed his throwing program in Arizona, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILYusei Kikuchi SP — Kikuchi (shoulder) said Wednesday that he's slated to begin a throwing program soon and expressed hope that he'll be able to return to the Angels early in the second half of the season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILRobert Stephenson RP — The Angels announced that Stephenson underwent ligament and flexor repair surgery on his right elbow Wednesday and is likely to miss the remainder of the season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILAnthony Rendon 3B — The Angels placed Rendon (hip) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
The market sees a coin flip with a small Angels lean: Pinnacle has L.A. at -145 on the moneyline with the Rockies at +131, and the total sits at 8.5 with the under juiced to -117 over +102. Game 1 cleared that number by the second inning. If Sugano can give Colorado 5-plus and Rodriguez looks anything like he did against Detroit instead of his season line, the under has a real case. If not, get comfortable.
Bottom line: Rockies have a chance to grab a series in Anaheim against an Angels team that's been spiraling — three losses in their last five and a blown 8-run cushion on Monday. That doesn't happen often. Take the gift if you can.