After a long first week on the road, the Colorado Rockies finally get to host their home opener Friday afternoon as they begin a three-game series against the Athletics.
The Rockies send Ryan Feltner (0-0, 3.60 ERA) against Osvaldo Bido (1-0, 1.80) in a matchup of right-handers.
Friday is not expected to offer traditional baseball weather. The forecast calls for highs in the mid-40s and afternoon showers at first pitch and snow possible later, which is a familiar April scenario in Denver.
The Rockies head into their first home game after losing five of six at Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. Colorado scored just three runs in suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies and only 11 runs in the first six games.
The starting pitching has been solid, but the bullpen has been hit hard. Feltner, in his start Sunday against the Rays, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out five, but he left after five innings with the Rockies down 2-1. They eventually lost, 6-4.
Feltner had a tough road back to the rotation after getting hit in the head with a line drive on May 13, 2023. He returned for two starts that September and made 30 starts in 2024.
One of those came against the A’s on May 23. He didn’t allow a run over six innings in his only career appearance against them. Colorado wound up losing 10-9 in 11 innings — one of 21 one-run losses for the Rockies last season.
Feltner feels he can help the Rockies flip some of those close losses.
“Everybody talks about the Dodgers, but we play them close every year,” Feltner said. “We play everybody very close. It’s just about pulling out those small victories, getting those tight wins. … It’s about that last little 2 percent.”
The A’s enter Friday on a four-game losing streak after being swept at home by the Chicago Cubs. They had an off-day Thursday to get ready for a chilly weekend in Denver.
Bido will try to end the losing streak in his first career game against Colorado. The 29-year-old Bido has one of the two Athletics’ wins this season, allowing one earned run in five innings Saturday at Seattle.
Bido is in his third major league season and second with the A’s after beginning his career with Pittsburgh. Bido made 16 appearances and nine starts in each of his first two seasons and joined the Athletics’ rotation full-time in late July.
He was 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA last August and he has impressed his manager with his potential.
“I like that he kind of flew under the radar,” Mark Kotsay said in spring training. “You look at those numbers and they’re pretty impressive. I’m excited about Bido’s opportunity here and the impact he could have. … I think this kid can be an impact frontline starter.”
–Field Level Media
