Rockies vs Twins Preview: Heroic Pitchers Face Coors Challenge

Colorado's pitching staff is battle-tested. They know Coors Field makes their job crazy hard. Now they're traveling to Minnesota to face the Twins. The Rockies are 32-49 but just won their last game. They've played solid baseball lately, winning six of their last ten. Tomoyuki Sugano takes the mound for Colorado. The Japanese veteran brings experience from years playing professional baseball. His ERA sits at 5.79 this season. That's high, but the Rockies need him to step up big. Minnesota's defense will test him early and often.

Minnesota is 38-44 and lost three straight games. The bats need to wake up fast. Taj Bradley starts for the Twins on Saturday. He's a young pitcher still finding his way. Bradley's ERA is 4.89 with 22 strikeouts this year. The Twins' bullpen and rotation rely on depth and steady arms. Joe Ryan leads the charge from the rotation. Minnesota's catcher Victor Caratini has been stepping in beautifully. He's hitting hard in Ryan Jeffers' absence. The Twins' strength comes from consistency, not one superstar.

Both teams lean on their pitching depth to compete. Colorado can't overpower anyone from Coors. Minnesota builds its strength through reliable arms. The game hinges on who stays sharp longer. Sugano's control will matter big time against the Twins' lineup. Bradley must throw strikes and avoid walks. Target Field is a neutral battleground. Neither team gets a homefield pitching advantage here. Every inning counts. Small mistakes become huge plays. You'll see disciplined pitching and calculated aggression on both sides. This is playoff baseball energy in June.