Kevin Gausman is in his seventh big-league season, and his 162nd career appearance will represent a career first.
The 28-year-old right-hander will finally get to pitch at Coors Field — the ballpark he frequently visited while growing up — when the Atlanta Braves look to complete a three-game series sweep against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in Denver.
Gausman grew up in the Denver suburb of Aurora and often dreamed of toeing the rubber in front of major league hitters at Coors Field.
That image becomes reality on Wednesday when the Braves look to post their fourth straight win and eighth in nine games.
“It’s crazy, because I feel like I’ve been in the big leagues for a good bit,” Gausman told reporters. “And I haven’t been here. This is one of two ballparks — here and Busch Stadium (in St. Louis) — that I haven’t played at. So that’s kind of weird, being that I grew up 30 minutes from here.”
Gausman has a high level of familiarity with the ballpark due to all the times he attended games. He is well aware of the hitter-friendly atmosphere and knows the best places to park.
What will be different is this: He wants to see the Rockies lose.
“You make good pitches, you’re going to get guys out,” Gausman said of pitching at Coors Field. “I don’t think you can try to be too perfect out there. I think when you start trying to be too fine, that’s when you get in trouble.”
Gausman has seen plenty of offensive exploits in the ballpark. He couldn’t help but reminisce about his early childhood visits.
“I remember watching Andres Galarraga and Dante Bichette, the Blake Street Bombers,” Gausman said. “Those teams were really fun to watch. And later, I got to play with Ubaldo Jimenez for four years (with the Baltimore Orioles). I used to watch him all the time in high school, so that was pretty cool.”
Gausman will be looking to follow up a superb outing as he pitched seven innings of two-hit shutout ball while beating the Miami Marlins last Friday. He struck out seven and walked just two.
Colorado will be looking to change its fortunes. The 7-1 loss to the Braves on Tuesday was the Rockies’ fifth straight defeat and ninth in 10 games.
The Rockies will aim to halt their skid behind right-hander Jeff Hoffman, who is being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to make the start.
Hoffman will take the rotation spot of left-hander Tyler Anderson, who went on the injured list earlier this week with a knee injury.
Hoffman is 6-9 with a 5.88 ERA in 37 appearances (23 starts) for Colorado over the past three seasons.
He was roughed up in his one start at Albuquerque this season as he allowed four runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked four and hit two batters while striking out three in a loss to Salt Lake.
“The big thing that I like to do when those kind of outings happen is not put too much into it, either way, and assess the outing and really come out of it knowing I’m the same guy — not really living or dying on a good or a bad outing,” Hoffman told reporters. “I went out after that, threw a really good side (session), and I feel really good.”
Hoffman will have to contend with Dansby Swanson, who hit a three-run homer Tuesday, and Ronald Acuna Jr., who hit a solo shot. Both Swanson and Acuna have four homers this year.
“He’s having really good at-bats right now and playing really, really well,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Swanson, who is batting .324.
