Gerrit Cole makes his debut against a banged up Giants team that is scoring just 2.61 runs per 9 vs. RHP over their last 10 games combined and are now without Pagan and Sandoval which will continue to hurt them especially against an elite pitching staff like the Pirates who have the 3rd best bullpen and post a 2.01 ERA at home. Gerrit Cole has 183 K's in 200 innings in the minors and has held opponents to a .190 average this year. He's facing the Giants at the right time being at home and against a banged up line up. Meanwhile the Pirates are 19-7 in their last 26 home games vs. a RH starter and Tim Lincecum has been awful posting a 5.67 ERA ont he road and only a 4.45 ERA in 5 career starts against the Pirates. The Giants are now 7-15 in his last 22 starts vs. a winning team.
Dan Haren has a 6.41 ERA in his last 3 starts vs. the Rockies and homers have been the main issue for him all season long giving up 2 per 9 innings and a 15% HR/FB ratio for a fly ball pitcher does not help either. The Rockies are #2 in OPS vs. RHP, #2 in HR vs. RHP and of course #1 in HR at home. Cargo/Tulo have 6 HR combined off Haren and the Rockies have been hot of late with 10 HR in their last 7 days rankings #3 in OPS over that time. Washington on the other hand hit well on Sunday through a double header, but the day off is not a good team that looked like they were getting out of their offensive slump. Washington still has just a .227 average and 2.74 runs per 9 over their last 10 games vs. RHP. Chacin will make the start and has a greater chance to win in Colorado as he's a GB pitcher and only allowing 0.27 HR/9. His main pitches are fastball and slider where the Nationals are ranked 29th and 24th. The Nationals have won with pitching and when Vegas expects a lot of runs like tonight they tend to lose as they are just 22-46 in their last 68 road games with a total of 9-10.5 runs.
