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Jun 19, 20261
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Pirates and Rockies Open Three-Game Series in Denver

The Colorado Rockies will host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday to open a three-game series in Denver. The Pirates enter as favorites despite both teams struggling with four wins and six losses over their last ten games, while both teams deal with significant injury concerns on their rosters.



Quick Facts
Who
Colorado Rockies
What
Three-game series
When
Friday, 8:40 p.m. EDT
Where
Denver
- Three-game series
- Fourth matchup of the season
- Pirates favored in betting odds
- Rockies and Pirates both 4-6 in last ten games
- Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies will host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday at 8:40 p.m. EDT to begin a three-game series at Coors Field in Denver. This matchup marks the fourth meeting between the two teams this season. The Rockies enter the game with a record of 28-47 overall and 14-20 at home, while the Pirates stand at 38-37 overall with an 18-18 road record. Pittsburgh is favored in the matchup, with betting odds of -141, and the over/under is set at 11.5 runs.
Bubba Chandler is expected to start for Pittsburgh with a 2-7 record, 4.76 ERA, and 1.38 WHIP through 68 strikeouts. Kyle Freeland will take the mound for Colorado, carrying a 1-7 record, 7.98 ERA, and 1.71 WHIP with 49 strikeouts. The Pirates rank sixth in the National League with a .408 slugging percentage, while the Rockies have recorded 81 home runs this season, ranking ninth in the league.
Troy Johnston leads the Rockies offense with a .312 batting average, including 21 doubles and three home runs. Willi Castro has been productive over the past ten games, going 15-for-38 with two home runs and nine RBIs. For Pittsburgh, Nick Gonzales paces the team with a .293 batting average along with 11 doubles, two home runs, 16 walks, and 32 RBIs. Bryan Reynolds has contributed significantly in recent action, posting a 15-for-40 record with four home runs and eight RBIs over his last ten games.
Both teams are struggling recently. The Rockies have posted a 4-6 record over their last ten games with a .289 batting average and 6.17 ERA, outscoring opponents by just one run during that stretch. The Pirates are equally uneven at 4-6 over their last ten contests, batting .260 with a 5.32 ERA while being outscored by 17 runs.
Injuries are affecting both rosters. The Rockies have eleven players on the injured list, including Kris Bryant (60-day IL, back), Jose Quintana (60-day IL, elbow), Welinton Herrera (60-day IL, elbow), and McCade Brown (60-day IL, shoulder). Colorado also has several players on the 10-day or 15-day list dealing with oblique, ankle, hamstring, and hip injuries. The Pirates have four players sidelined, including Chris Devenski (60-day IL, illness), and players dealing with lat strain, flexor tendon, and hand injuries.
Topics
Why This Matters
This matchup is significant for MLB fans tracking playoff implications, as Pittsburgh maintains a winning record while Colorado continues to struggle. Injury management will be critical—both teams field multiple key players on extended leave—making roster depth and bench performance crucial factors in determining Friday's outcome and momentum heading into the weekend.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 19, 2026
WireSeries preview published
Jun 20, 2026
WirePirates vs. Rockies game scheduled for Friday at 8:40 p.m. EDT