After winning first series against Astros since 2021, Rockies go for sweep

Kyle Freeland became the first Rockies starter to pitch into the seventh inning this season in Colorado's 5-1 win over Houston on Tuesday night.

Michael Lorenzen has a chance to make it two straight when he takes the mound against the Astros on Wednesday afternoon in Denver.

The improved Rockies already have guaranteed a series win, having beaten the Astros 9-7 on Monday in the series opener and then again on Tuesday.

It marks Colorado's first series win against Houston since 2021.

Lorenzen (0-1, 14.73 ERA) is looking for a bounce-back start after he gave up nine runs over three innings on Friday in a 10-1 home loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran right-hander allowed seven runs in the first inning but stuck around to give Colorado some much-needed innings.

Lorenzen, 34, who signed a free-agent contract with the Rockies in the offseason, said he is not panicking after his bad outing.

"Three years ago, even two years ago, I'd have been super frustrated," he said. "It's not like I welcome losing and failing, but over my career it has been better for me, because you have to learn, grind it out and figure a way to get better. That's how you improve.

"That gives me the ability to come to Colorado, knowing that I'm going to get my teeth kicked in every once in a while but be like, ‘I'm going to learn more about who I am and how to handle it.'"

Lorenzen has faced Houston six times -- four of them starts -- and is 0-3 with a 6.86 ERA in those outings. He started one game against the Astros last season as a member of the Kansas City Royals, allowing four runs on seven hits and struck out five over 7 1/3 innings. He was charged with the 4-3 loss.

Houston has lost three games in a row after winning six of the seven previous games, and the normally potent offense went silent in hitter-friendly Coors Field on Tuesday night. The Astros managed just three hits in the loss after scoring 28 runs in its previous three games -- two of them losses.

Cristian Javier (0-1, 12.96 ERA) will try to salvage the last game of the series for Houston.

With the rotation already suffering key injuries, the Astros hope Javier can pitch deep into the game. The right-hander has faced the Rockies twice in his career (one start) and has a 4.76 ERA over 5 2/3 innings. He did not record a decision in either outing.

Houston was dealt a blow when ace Hunter Brown was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right shoulder strain and will be out for several weeks. Manager Joe Espada is piecing together his staff, relying on some relievers to give him extended innings.

The Astros could bring up pitchers from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill the void.

"I think there'll be guys that can fill in for the amount of weeks that (Hunter Brown is) going to be out, whether it's six or eight total when it's all said and done," general manager Dana Brown said. "We'll have guys that can step up. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise where he gets a little bit of rest, we build him back up, and we get him for the rest of the season. So this break could be what he needs."

--Field Level Media