Rockies, with moving parts at pitcher, open home series with Guardians

The Colorado Rockies returned from a 5-4 road trip with some momentum, but the Los Angeles Dodgers swept that away this week.

After an 0-3 start to their homestand, the Rockies will open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night in Denver.

Colorado right-hander Tanner Gordon (0-3, 5.55 ERA) will look for his first win of the season as Cleveland counters with left-hander Joey Cantillo (9-7, 3.80).

Gordon will make his first start since just before the All-Star break and his sixth of the season. He has worked out of the bullpen 12 times this year and suffered two of his three losses as a starter, posting a 6.26 ERA in those outings. He has given up six homers in 23 innings as a starter.

Gordon lost his only career appearance against the Guardians when he allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits in three innings of a 10-4 road defeat on July 29, 2025. He figures to get more starting opportunities after Michael Lorenzen was designated for assignment this week and veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland left a 6-4, 10-inning loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday with neck tightness in the fourth inning.

Also likely to see action against the Guardians is rookie Mark Manfredi, who made his major league debut in relief of Freeland. The left-hander will always remember the first batter he faced -- superstar Shohei Ohtani, who walked. Andy Pages followed with a single, but Teoscar Hernandez lined out to left to end the inning.

Manfredi pitched a perfect fifth inning, striking out two batters.

"When I saw the injury and (Freeland) was walking off, I was, like, ‘This is 100% going to be me,'" said Manfredi, who was acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline this month for reliever Antonio Senzatela.

Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said he liked what he saw from Manfredi's first outing.

"I thought he threw the ball exceptionally well," Schaeffer said. "Got his first couple of punchouts."

Cantillo, in his third season, will make his first career appearance against the Rockies. In three starts in August, he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.

Cleveland, despite a 62-66 record, is in the thick of both the American League Central race and the chase for the league's third wild-card spot. The Guardians took two of three games from San Francisco this week, including a 5-2 win Thursday afternoon, to finish their homestand at 3-3.

Cleveland trails the first-place Chicago White Sox by 4 1/2 games in the Central and is only one game out of the final wild-card position.

Friday night will begin a six-game road trip, and outfielder Jo Adell will make his first trip to Denver with the Guardians.

Adell suffered a knee contusion in an 8-1 win over the Giants on Tuesday, sat out on Wednesday, and came into the Thursday game as a pinch hitter and remained in as the designated hitter.

Cleveland acquired Adell from the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 3 to add right-handed power to its lineup. He has three of his 19 home runs in 14 games with the Guardians, including one Tuesday before leaving that game.

He likely will see more time at DH as his knee improves.

"I'm just really excited about being here and being able to have a bit of a plan that I've been able to get at the plate with these guys," Adell said before the game on Thursday. "I'm excited for more. We've yet to play our best baseball, but it's on its way, so I'm excited."

--Field Level Media