Since the Colorado Rockies are enjoying a much-needed day off before welcoming the St. Louis Cardinals to Coors Field on Friday, I figured it could be a good opportunity to pay some attention to the farm system with a game discussion thread, as all four Rockies affiliates are at home this week.
We will update the article with lineups throughout the day and into the evening as they become available.
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (65-69) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (64-70): Carson Fulmer vs. Jack Mahoney
The dreams of making a playoff run aren’t likely to come to fruition for the Albuquerque Isotopes as
they are 10 games back in the PCL East division in the second-half standings. While that may be the case, the Isotopes are still in the hunt for an overall winning record for the season for the first time since joining the Rockies organization in 2015.
This week, the Isotopes have lost the first two games of the series, trailing by three runs in each. Wednesday saw the Isotopes fall 5-2 in extra innings after giving up three runs in the top of the 10th.
Jack Mahoney (0-1, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Isotopes, looking to continue finding his footing in Triple-A. Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP) has given up at least two runs in each of his five starts in August and has completed five innings only twice. Walks have been his biggest issue, as he allowed 13 walks in 22.2 innings last month against 18 strikeouts.
Carson Fulmer (5-1, 5.25 ERA) takes the hill for the Tacoma Rainiers. The veteran right-hander has found more consistency as a starter since being traded to the Seattle Mariners organization in June. Unfortunately, the consistency has mostly been in giving the Rainiers innings on the mound. Walks plagued Fulmer in August as he allowed 15 free passes against 13 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work; seven of those walks came in his last start.
Game 1 First Pitch: 12:05 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV / Bally Sports Live
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (62-65) vs. Reading Fightin Phils (64-63): Gage Wood vs. Jackson Cox
After securing a playoff bid in the first half, the Hartford Yard Goats have struggled a bit more in the second half of the 2026 season with a 23-36 record. The main issue for the Yard Goats has been the struggle to score runs despite solid enough pitching. This series is currently tied 1-1 after Reading won Wednesday’s game 5-3, despite Hartford out-hitting them 11-6.
Jackson Cox (2-2, 3.89 ERA) is ready to make his first appearance since July 19, as he’s been on the injured list. Cox (No. 11 PuRP) was really starting to find his rhythm in Hartford in July, having allowed just two runs on five hits over 18 innings of work before he was shut down with an injury. In his second full season post-Tommy John surgery, Cox has impressed quite a bit, even more than he already did in 2025. He’s got the strikeout capabilities, but the command still needs to be honed to cut down on walks.
Gage Wood (0-3, 4.83 ERA) is the No. 1 prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies per MLB Pipeline but has struggled a little bit since being promoted to Double-A at the end of May. The swing-and-miss has been more than apparent with 84 strikeouts against 16 walks in 59.2 Double-A innings. However, he’s also given up a lot of contact and has been stung by home runs, which is a natural hurdle as you advance through the minors. There is plenty of talent, however, and the Yard Goats will have to be on their toes.
Game 2 First Pitch: 4:30 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV / Bally Sports Live
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
High-A: Spokane Indians (56-71) vs. Everett AquaSox(65-63): Mason Peters vs. Lebarron Johnson Jr.
The Spokane Indians are just playing for pride at this point in the season, as the Northwest League championship match-up has already been decided. It’s been a tough year for Spokane on both fronts as pitching has struggled to prevent runs and the offense has struggled to score runs. The team is last in the overall standings and their -161 run differential is by far the worst in the league. In this series alone, they have scored just three runs while allowing 21.
Lebarron Johnson Jr. (1-7, 6.57 ERA) makes the start for Spokane, trying to find some sort of groove down the stretch. Johnson has dealt with injuries off and on throughout the season and has struggled immensely since July 10. Since then, he has worked more than three innings in an outing just once and has been hit hard for quite a few runs in that span. Like a lot of other pitchers, walks have been the big issue, and when the strikeout stuff isn’t working, it has led to a lot of damage in a small sample of work.
Pedro Da Costa Lemos (3-0, 2.86 ERA) will make his 12th appearance of the year and his first start since 2024. Da Costa Lemos has been excellent as a reliever in his career and has typically thrown two or three innings per outing this season. This season he has done well to pound the zone and limit walks. While he can give up a good deal of contact, he is able to mitigate damage and hasn’t been stung by the home run ball too often.
Game 3 First Pitch: 7:35 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV / Bally Sports Live
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
Fresno Grizzlies (69-59) vs. San Jose Giants (76-52): Ben Bybee vs. Izeah Muniz
Should the Fresno Grizzlies secure victory tonight, they will clinch a playoff spot for the second year in a row. The Grizzlies have enjoyed a strong overall year once again, despite some injuries and promotions of players through the system. Lately, they have enjoyed an influx of newly drafted players like Daniel Jackson and promotions of players from the ACL Rockies. This series is currently tied 1-1 after the Grizzlies won 6-2 on Wednesday.
Izeah Muniz (1-1, 4.66 ERA) will take the hill for the Grizzlies. Muniz has made just four appearances this season, spending the majority of the season on the injured list. He was recently activated on August 18 and has made two starts, though both were essentially as an opener. He has allowed two runs on three hits in three innings since returning.
Ben Bybee (3-3, 4.91 ERA) was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round in 2025, and he has worked a mixed role this season. He started the year as a bulk reliever before settling into the rotation in June. His usage has still fluctuated as he has worked as an opener for three to four innings or given the reins to work as deep into the game as he can go. In August, he mostly settled into the former, but overall has some nice qualities. He throws strikes and doesn’t give up a lot of hard contact.
Game 4 First Pitch: 7:50 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV / Bally Sports Live
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
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