A year ago, when the Rockies started the June chunk of their interleague schedule, Jim Tracy’s crew faced the best pitcher in the American League. Fans wondered how Detroit’s Justin Verlander would fare at altitude. Turns out, quite well. Verlander went the distance in a 9-1 victory. So much for the challenge of his first career start in Denver.
Tonight, the Rockies welcome one of the highest-paid hitters in baseball. And, like last year, fans may wonder about Albert Pujols. How will the former Cardinals slugger do in his first trip to Denver since he joined the American League?
Pujols and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim arrive in Denver for a three-game series starting tonight against the Rockies at Coors Field. The opener will pit Colorado rookie Alex White (2-3, 5.60 ERA) against the Angels’ C.J. Wilson (6-4, 2.54 ERA). Wilson helped pitched the Texas Rangers to the World Series last year.
But the talk among Rox fans at Coors Field will be about Pujols, baseball’s premier hitter over the past decade who froze this season after he arrived in warm Southern California.
The $240 million contract Pujols signed before this season has netted the Angels his .244 batting average (the 122nd best in MLB before Wednesday’s games) and eight home runs (56th best). Through early May, Pujols carried a .194 average and no homers. But he’s trending upward, having hit .314 over his past 10 games. Should he expect to feast against the Rockies’ shaky starting pitching?
In 36 career starts in Denver, Pujols has 32 RBIs and nine home runs — he must enjoy the view from Coors Field’s home plate.
His angle in the field, though, could be wildly different. Angels manager Mike Scioscia told the Los Angeles Times that he will play Pujols at third base for most interleague games, away from his normal perch at first.
“You have more time than you think (at third),” Pujols told the Times. “It’s not like playing shortstop or second. The ball gets to you quick, you catch the ball, you throw it. That’s it.”
For seamheads, know this: Pujols’ 0.8 WAR number this season — a stat that determines how many wins a player is worth above the player who would replace him — is in the range of minor-league players. But the jump start back to the MVP-type 8.0 numbers of Pujols’ past could be a simple trip to Denver away.
Angels at altitude
Anaheim visits Colorado for a three-game interleague series against the Rockies at Coors Field this weekend.
Today: Angels’ C.J. Wilson (6-4, 2.54 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Alex White (2-3, 5.60), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Also: Saturday, 2:10 p.m. and Sunday, 1:10 p.m.
