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Blue Jays-Rockies Preview

Jun 12, 2010 - 7:06 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Toronto (34-28) at Colorado (31-30), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Like the rest of the Colorado Rockies' pitching staff, Jason Hammel has been overshadowed by a teammate.

Hammel's recent performances, however, have come close to matching Ubaldo Jimenez's.

Hammel looks to win his third straight decision and help his team stay unbeaten at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.

Jimenez has established himself as the front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award with a 12-1 record and 1.16 ERA. The pitcher that follows him in the rotation probably won't compete for that title this season, but his recent efforts have started to give the Rockies (31-30) a formidable duo.

Hammel (3-3, 5.23 ERA) is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA in his last three starts after scattering six hits over 7 1-3 scoreless innings of a 5-1 win over Houston on Monday.

"I said, 'How am I supposed to follow (what Jimenez did)?' It's kind of a little joke going around," the right-hander said. "I think we're back to where the starting rotation was last year, where everybody is confident when we go out."

After helping Colorado to a surprising wild-card playoff berth in 2009, Hammel's early outings this season didn't inspire much confidence as he went 0-2 with a 9.16 ERA in four starts before a strained groin sent him to the disabled list.

After being activated, Hammel split his first two starts while posting a 5.27 ERA, but he seems to have found his form at the right time for the Rockies, who are five games behind Los Angeles and San Diego in the NL West.

He'll try to continue his recent success while again attempting to match Jimenez, who became the majors' first 12-game winner with Friday night's rain-shortened 5-3 victory in the series opener.

Hammel is 2-0 with a 4.95 ERA in four career outings versus the Blue Jays (34-28). He'll make his first start against them since April 23, 2008, while he was with Tampa Bay.

Ryan Spilborghs had two doubles and a solo home run Friday, giving him eight hits in his last 11 at-bats. He'll try to continue his hot hitting against Toronto's Brandon Morrow (4-4, 5.48).

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last two outings and just missed a win Sunday against the New York Yankees. Morrow allowed one run and four hits over seven innings against the AL's top hitting team, but the Yankees rallied for a 4-3 win.

While Morrow has pitched well of late, both of those performances came at the Rogers Centre. In six road starts this season, he's 0-3 with a 8.33 ERA.

Morrow made his only start against the Rockies at Coors Field last June. He was limited to 64 pitches while making his first start of the season following 16 relief appearances. He allowed one run and three hits over his three innings but also walked four batters.

Morrow will try to help his team win its first game in Denver in five tries Saturday, but he'll likely need more support than the Blue Jays have given their pitchers this month.

Toronto has batted .217 and been outscored 47-28 while going 3-6 in June. It totaled five hits Friday.

If there is a spark in Saturday's game, it could come from Fred Lewis, who is 6 for 7 with three doubles and a triple in his career against Hammel.