Rockies try to rediscover rare winning form against Giants

The Colorado Rockies entered their six-game homestand on a roll, winning three straight for the first time all season -- only to suffer a three-game sweep by the New York Mets.

The Rockies will look to regain that momentum when they open a three-game set against the surging San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in Denver.

San Francisco is coming off a home sweep of the Atlanta Braves and will send lefty Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.34 ERA) to the mound against Colorado rookie Carson Palmquist (0-4, 8.50 ERA) in the series opener.

Harrison moved into the rotation on May 24 at Washington and has made three straight starts while Justin Verlander has been on the injured list. Harrison left his last start in the fifth inning when he suffered a contusion on his left elbow after being hit by a comebacker. The lefty, though, won't miss his turn in the rotation.

Harrison was a full-time starter last season but came out of the bullpen in his first four appearances of 2025. He's making the most of his opportunity while Verlander is on the shelf.

"I think it's just staying the course and doing what I'm doing right now," Harrison said. "Just staying consistent, trusting the process, looking forward to my routine the next day after an outing and controlling the things I can control. I'm here for the long haul, hopefully.

"It's just keeping that in mind and whatever they need from me this year, I'll be ready for it. I'm just ready to get after it."

Harrison has been successful in five career starts against the Rockies, going 3-0 with a 2.20 ERA. Yet he has been even better when facing Colorado in Denver, where he is 1-0 and has not allowed a run over 12 innings.

Palmquist is still seeking his first win after having his contract selected on May 16. He made his major league debut at Arizona that night and allowed five runs in four innings of work.

Palmquist took the loss at thee New York Mets on June 1 despite striking out a career-high eight over 4 2/3 innings, his fourth loss in as many starts to begin his career.

He is the first Colorado pitcher to lose his first four career starts since John Thomson in 1997. No Rockies pitcher has lost in each of his first five starts, and Palmquist will try to avoid that history in his first action against the Giants.

Colorado is trying to avoid the worst MLB season in the modern era. The Rockies, now 12-53 after being swept by the Mets over the weekend, are off to the worst 65-game start in the modern era and need to win 30 of their final 97 games to finish ahead of the 2024 Chicago White Sox.

It will be tough sledding against San Francisco, which has won five straight -- all by one run.

Colorado is looking for any kind of boost, and Sam Hilliard has provided one since joining the team on May 30. In eight games, the outfielder has batted .368 and had two doubles and a triple against New York over the weekend.

"He's earning himself a role every day that he continues to produce," Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. "He looks like the Sam Hilliard I know from old."