After a-less-than stellar result in Baltimore, the Colorado Rockies are off to “The Land” for three games against Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians are currently dealing with their own drama as top closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on administrative leave as part of a league investigation into sports betting
. This is the second Guardians player under investigation this season.This will also be the first time the Rockies will meet back up with Nolan Jones after swapping him for Tyler Freeman during
spring training.
Making his third consecutive start for the Rockies is the right-handed Bradley Blalock. Blalock has done exactly what the Rockies have needed him to do over his last two outings: eat up innings and limit damage. In both of those starts he has gone at least five innings and given up two or fewer earned runs, despite allowing six or more hits and tallying just one total strikeout. This model likely isn’t sustainable, but it might be enough against a Cleveland offense that—along with the Rockies—is one of the worst in the league.
On the bump for the Guardians and hoping to limit traffic is the right-handed Slade Cecconi. Despite Cecconi having spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to Cleveland during off-season in exchange for Josh Naylor, he’s only faced the Rockies once before.
The 6’4’’ righty has a 3.76 through 12 starts this season with 60 strikeouts in 69 1⁄3 innings of work. Cecconi has given up a lot of hard contact so far in 2025, allowing 12 home runs. He has one of the worse barrel rates in the league, as well as a hard hit percentage in the bottom ten percent.
His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball that averages 94.3 MPH, and he also throws a slider, a curveball, a sinker, and a changeup. On very rare occasions, he might turn to a cutter or a sweeper.
Weather Update: 3:50 PM MDT:
Due to rain in the area, the tarp is currently out at Progressive Field. There is not currently a delay announced.
Rain in the area so tarp on the field in Cleveland before #Rockies open a series against Guardians pic.twitter.com/XnLdq7fREo
— Kevin Henry (@kgh23) July 28, 2025
First Pitch: 4:40 p.m. MT
TV: Rockies.tv
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM, KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)
Lineups:
Land of the Free(man) pic.twitter.com/xwFnQnHun3
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 28, 2025
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