Long-time followers of the blog are aware that I harbor a profound affection for

Colorado Rockies

They’re like the big, cuddly golden retriever dogs—_not_ known for their intelligence or speed—and honestly, they aren’t great athletes either. But you can’t help loving them anyway. This makes me slightly concerned about how they’ll fare against the top team in the AL East.

New York Yankees

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Clarke Schmidt will have the responsibility of kicking off the series strongly, stepping onto the mound for his second major league start at Coors Field. During his previous visit, he secured a victory after pitching six innings, allowing just two runs, striking out eight batters, and not walking anyone. Given how erratic performances can be at such high altitudes in Denver, repeating that earlier success would put the Yankees in a solid position.

The primary hurdle for pitchers at Coors often lies in their loss of break on off-speed pitches, and Schmidt has primarily relied on his sweeping motion and somewhat on his curveball this season. The significant challenge for Clarke tonight will be figuring out how to effectively use these pitches in conditions that aren’t ideal for them.

The plan for Colorado was initially set for their promising young pitcher Chase Dollander, but due to him landing on the injured list, it has been shifted. Instead, Tanner Gordon, who was called up earlier today from Triple-A Albuquerque, will step in temporarily as a starting pitcher. This season, Gordon had previously started once back on May 8th when he pitched 6.1 innings against the Tigers. Although his fastball isn’t particularly impressive, he excels with an effective changeup which he aims to use to confuse Yankees batters.


How to watch


Location

Coors Field — Denver, CO


First pitch

: 8:40 pm ET


TV broadcast

YES Network, Rockies.TV, KUSA/9News, KTVD Channel 20


Radio broadcast

: WFAN (NYY); KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM, KNRV 1150 (COL)


Online stream

: MLB.tv, Gotham Sports App

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