Clough: Rockies need bats outside Blackmon, Arenado, 6-plus from Gray

Oct 3, 2017, 11:03 PM Updated: 11:04 pm

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 12: Starting pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 12, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Editor’s note: Join 104.3 The Fan at the Blake Street Tavern on Wednesday to root on the Colorado Rockies. “The Drive’s” baseball roundtable starts at 3 p.m.

Though only promised one game, which takes place on the road, the Colorado Rockies hit the field in its first postseason game this decade on Wednesday, taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

And as a welcome back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, the Rockies get the pleasure of squaring off against four-time All-Star and 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.

In 18 starts at Chase Field this season, Greinke has a 13-1 record with a 2.87 ERA and a WHIP of .957.

Greinke started five games against Colorado this season, earning a 2-and-1 record with a 3.41 ERA.

But, despite the daunting task ahead in the one-game series, 104.3 The Fan’s Sandy Clough said Tuesday that he thinks it’s a “good matchup” for the Rockies.

“I think the pitching matchup, if you assume that even in a hitter’s park like Chase Field, that this will be an advantage for the Rockies, having historically hit pretty well at Chase Field, that it will pump them up a little bit,” Clough said.

But, if the Rockies are going to be able to get to and knock out Greinke, Clough said they’ll need production out of the lineup aside from MVP candidates Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon.

“The Rockies have gotten hot with the bat at the right time here late in the season, and Gonzalez and Story have had big Septembers,” Clough said. “Again, one game. Anything can happen. My sense is, though, that if it is an attack tomorrow night strictly dependent on Blackmon and Arenado, the Rockies will have trouble winning this game.”

Gonzalez, in particular, has heated up in the past month, batting a team-high .377 in 24 games in September, with an OPS of 1.250, 6 home runs, and 16 RBIs.

Between Opening Day and the end of July, Gonzalez had just six total home runs and 26 RBIs before turning his 2017 campaign around in August.

Clough also said he likes the Rockies throwing Jon Gray, a “high-strikeout guy” against Greinke, “even if he can’t go more than six innings.”

“I think you probably prefer, greatly prefer, six as opposed to five. It means that you’re using your best people in the bullpen,” Clough said. “If he can only go five or less, obviously, the Rockies are in trouble.

“I can’t imagine that Greinke wouldn’t be able to give Arizona a six, seven good innings.”

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