Rockies face White Sox, still hope for first home-series victory

The Colorado Rockies have yet to win a home series this season, but they still have a chance to do so this weekend in a matchup between the two worst teams in the majors.

Colorado lost the opener Friday night of a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox 3-2 but can earn the series victory by taking the next two games.

The Rockies will send German Marquez (3-9, 5.62 ERA) to the mound on Saturday, while the White Sox will counter with Jonathan Cannon (2-7, 4.59) in a matchup of right-handers.

Marquez has pitched well since May 17, when Arizona chased him after three innings and seven runs. In his eight starts since that loss, he has had only one poor start, June 24 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed six runs over four innings.

On Sunday at Milwaukee, he gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings but didn't get the win in Colorado's 4-3 victory in 11 innings.

In two career starts against the White Sox -- both at home -- Marquez is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA.

Marquez isn't the only Rockies player in a rhythm. Outfielder Tyler Freeman has reached base in 19 straight games and looks comfortable at the top of the lineup.

He has shifted his focus from power to getting on base since coming from Cleveland in the offseason, and it's working.

"It's in my hands. I controlled the idea of trying to expand my game power-wise. If I would have looked and said, ‘I've got to be who I am,' things might have been different in Cleveland," Freeman said. "But everything happens for a reason, and it's showing right now."

Chicago ended a three-game losing streak Friday and can finish its road trip 3-3 if it can sweep the series in Denver. Cannon follows a spectacular start by Adrian Houser, who didn't allow an earned run in his season-high eight innings on Friday night.

Cannon has faced the Rockies just one time in his career, on June 29, 2024, at home. He allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings that night but didn't factor into the decision in an 11-3 White Sox victory.

Cannon, 24, will make his second start since coming off the 15-day injured list due to a lower back strain. He tossed only three innings in his team's 5-2 win over San Francisco on Sunday, in part because his pitch count was 69.

It was his only trip to the IL in his brief major league career.

"Being a starting pitcher, one of the most valuable things you can be is available and throwing every fifth day. This was a minor hiccup," Cannon said of his back injury. "I've been good in my pro career about taking care of my body and make every start. Things come up, things you don't want to come up. But we moved past this as fast as possible.

"I feel like we are in a really good spot going into the rest of the year. Just looking to go out and make every start."

--Field Level Media