It’s not the Nolan-and-Trevor show, and it might never be. Still, the left side of the Rockies’ infield has been flashing some fine leather this season.
Veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon turned in one of the better defensive games of his career Sunday in the Rockies’ 4-3 victory over the Angels. Ezequiel Tovar, the slick-fielding rookie shortstop, started three of Colorado’s four double plays to help seal the win.
From 2016 to 2020, Colorado’s lineup featured 10-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado at third and the athletic Trevor Story at short. It was a dynamic duo in the field and at the plate. Arenado was traded to St. Louis before the 2021 season, and Story became a free agent after the 2021 season, but the new combo of McMahon-Tovar is working just fine.
Manager Bud Black was especially impressed by McMahon’s performance on Sunday.
“That was one of the better defensive days I’ve seen from a third baseman for a long time,” Black said. “I saw Nolan play for five years, and Nolan is a Gold Glover, and he’s a great defender, but those three plays ‘Mac’ made today were tough plays.”
To wit:
• McMahon completed a third-to-first double play on a Mickey Moniak grounder to end the second inning. McMahon had to cover a lot of ground to touch third and then make a strong throw to first.
• A hot, topspin grounder by Mike Trout backed McMahon into the left-field grass but McMahon loaded up and threw a strike to nail the speedy Trout and finish off the eighth innings.
• With the Rockies’ slim lead in jeopardy in the ninth, McMahon charged Luis Rengifo’s chopper, scooped up the ball and fired it to first to end the game.
“I don’t control the opportunities or anything like that,” McMahon said. “Based on where I was positioned, they hit it to me a couple of times. They were tough plays to make, and luckily I made them all.”
McMahon’s 2.5 dWAR (Baseball Reference) leads all National League players with at least 50% of their games at third base, and his 10 defensive runs saved at third are tied for the most at the position with the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes (Sports Info Solutions).
“He makes everybody feel comfortable over there,” Tovar said. “I think he’s a Gold Glover.”
After a bit of a rocky start, Tovar is beginning to live up to the hype about his defense. Four defensive runs saved are tied for the seventh-most among shortstops (Sports Info Solutions), and his 0.8 defensive WAR (Baseball Reference) is the highest among all major league rookies.
Both in the field and at the plate, Tovar practices relentlessly.
“He’s committed,” Black said. “That’s the thing I heard from our player-development staff. His commitment to get to the big league was apparent as early as three or four years ago.”
Cron returns. The Rockies reinstated first baseman C.J. Cron from the 10-day injured list on Monday, after he missed more than a month with back issues. He will likely get the start in the series opener Tuesday night against the Dodgers at Coors Field. Cron, 33, was placed on the IL on May 15. Cron, Colorado’s only All-Star last season, was hitting .228 with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 36 games.
To make room on the roster, the Rockies optioned infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia and right-hander Noah Davis to Triple-A Albuquerque. Toglia is batting .174 in 10 games with the Rockies. Davis is 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA in five games (four starts).
Fernandez to Futures: Rockies outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernandez has been selected to SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, it was announced Monday. Fernandez began the season with High-A Spokane and was recently promoted to Double-A Hartford.
The Cuban-born Hernandez is slashing .313/.351/.942 with 19 homers and 73 RBIs in 54 games.
The Futures Game will be played at 5 p.m. (MDT) July 8 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Tuesday’s pitching matchup
Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (9-4, 2.72 ERA) at Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-3, 5.88)
6:40 p.m. Tuesday, Coors Field
TV: ATTRM
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Seabold said Sunday that the soreness in his right triceps is clearing up and that he should have no problem making his start against the Dodgers. He faces a big test against a team that often beats up the home team at Coors Field. Seabold is coming off a terrible start at Atlanta, allowing a career-high nine runs on nine hits, including four home runs, in three innings. His only career appearance vs. the Dodgers was April 3 in Los Angeles when he gave up four runs on five hits over three innings. Kershaw is pitching like Kershaw again. After tossing seven shutout innings last Tuesday night against the Angels, Kershaw lowered his ERA to 2.72, which is good for eighth-best in the majors. It was the sixth time this season he’s gone at least seven innings. The rest of the Dodgers’ beat-up staff has combined for only three such outings. Kershaw has dominated the Rockies in his Hall of Fame career, going 26-11 with a 3.40 ERA over 48 starts. At Coors Field, however, he’s taking some lumps. He’s 11-8 with a 4.82 ERA over 26 starts.
Pitching probables
Wednesday: Dodgers TBA at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-8, 4.54), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (1-0, 1.50) at Rockies RHP Chase Anderson (0-2, 5.79), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Tigers RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-5, 3.79) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (5-7, 7.01), 6:40, ATTRM
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