Rockies line up young gun for key clash

CHICAGO: The Colorado Rockies have to quickly forget about their 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West tie-breaker on Monday. They have work to do this morning (Thai time) if they want to extend their season.

The Rockies (91-72) travel to Chicago to play in the NL wild-card game against the Cubs (95-68), and will need a victory to advance to the NL Division Series. A loss will end a season that ended on a high note until the tie-breaker loss.

“Our guys will put it in the rear view for sure,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters after the loss. “The resiliency of this group has been awesome all year.”

The Rockies will start second-year lefthander Kyle Freeland (17-7, 2.85 ERA) on three days’ rest for the first time in his career against left-handed veteran Jon Lester (18-6, 3.32 ERA), their second faceoff of 2018.

“I’m looking forward to the battle in Chicago,” said Freeland, who finished the season with 11 consecutive quality starts but has no postseason experience.

“I’ve done everything I could to get my arm feeling good from my last start, and it feels good right now. I’m ready to go, and I’m not too worried about being on short rest.”

Freeland, 25, faced the Cubs once this season, allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings during a 3-2 loss on April 30 in a match-up with Lester, who allowed just two unearned runs in 5 2/3 innings but didn’t earn a decision at Wrigley Field.