Rockies vs. Giants: What You Need to Know About Today’s Game

Welcome! Think of this like a playground ball game, but with grown-ups and lots of stats. Let’s break it down so even a 5-year-old can follow.

Kyle Freeland Starts for the Rockies

Kyle Freeland is a pitcher (the person who throws the ball) for the Colorado Rockies.

• He has played this season and his record is 2 wins and 7 losses (that means his team won 2 of the games he started and lost 7).
• His ERA (Earned Run Average — think of it like "how many points the other team scores off him on average per game") is 7.46, which is pretty high.
• This will be his 17th time starting a game this season for Colorado.
• Colorado’s total record this year is 39 wins and 57 losses.

In his most recent game on July 6:

• He played 5 innings (an inning is like a round of the game).
• He let the other team (the Dodgers) score 6 runs (points).
• They got 9 hits (good swings that became bases or runs) and 1 home run (a big hit that scores automatically).
• The Rockies lost that game 8-7 after 11 innings (they played extra rounds).

Freeland’s History vs. the Giants

Today the Rockies play the San Francisco Giants.

• In his whole career, Freeland has played the Giants 27 times (started 24 of those).
• His record against them: 8 wins, 9 losses.
• His ERA vs. them is 4.35.
• At their home stadium (Oracle Park), he has started 11 times:
  • Record: 2 wins, 5 losses
  • ERA: 3.63
• This is his first game against San Francisco this year.

Important Point: Even though Freeland has struggled this season, he has done better at the Giants’ home park than overall.

The Rockies Face Tyler Mahle

The Giants will pitch Tyler Mahle:

• He is 31 years old.
• He throws with his right hand (RHP = Right-Handed Pitcher).
• His record: 1 win, 8 losses.
• His ERA: 5.70.

The Rockies just played against him on July 5 in Colorado:

• He pitched 4.1 innings.
• He gave up 4 runs (3 were "earned" — meaning not caused by mistakes like errors).
• He allowed 8 hits and 5 strikeouts (when the batter misses and is out), with no walks (he didn’t accidentally throw balls outside the zone to let batters on base).

In that game:

• The Rockies were saved by Kyle Karros, who hit a three-run home run in the 8th round.
• Colorado won 7-6 in a comeback (they were losing and then won).

Mahle’s career vs. Rockies:

• 7 starts, record 2 wins, 1 loss, ERA 5.21.

Season Series and Roster Moves

• The Rockies lead the season series against the Giants 5 wins to 3 losses.

On Saturday morning, the Rockies made a swap (like trading one toy for another):

1. They called up (brought back) reliever Jeff Criswell from Triple-A Albuquerque (a minor league team).
2. They sent reliever TJ Shook down to the Isotopes (another minor league team).

Important Point: A "reliever" is a pitcher who comes in after the starter to help finish the game.

How to Watch and Listen

• First Pitch: 2:05 p.m. MDT (Mountain Time)
• Radio:
  • 850 AM / 94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network
  • KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)

Summary

Today the Rockies play the Giants. Kyle Freeland (struggling this year but okay at their park) starts his 17th game. The Giants pitch Tyler Mahle, whom the Rockies beat recently thanks to Kyle Karros’s homer. Colorado leads the series 5-3. Jeff Criswell joined the team Saturday. Game starts at 2:05 p.m. and you can hear it on the radio in English or Spanish.

FAQ

Q: What does ERA mean in baseball?
A: ERA stands for Earned Run Average. It shows how many runs a pitcher lets the other team score on average over 9 innings. Lower is better.

Q: What is a reliever?
A: A reliever is a pitcher who comes into the game after the starting pitcher to help get outs and finish the game.

Q: What does "recalled from Triple-A" mean?
A: It means a player was brought up from a lower-level team (Triple-A Albuquerque) to play in the big leagues with the Rockies.

Q: Why is the game against the Giants special for Freeland?
A: It’s his first time playing the Giants this season, and he has a history of doing better at their home stadium.