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The Colorado Rockies have certainly enjoyed the series against the Los Angeles Angels. After a wacky win to kick off the series on Monday, the boys in purple enjoyed a convincing win on Tuesday to win the series. Now, they look to complete the sweep on the road before heading home for the weekend.

Michael Lorenzen (2-7, 7.22 ERA) takes the hill against his former club, looking to right the ship. May was not a kind month to Lorenzen as he posted an 8.87 ERA over five starts, throwing 23.1 innings. He allowed five or more runs in three starts and allowed at least five hits in all of his starts. The major issue for Lorenzen has been a lack of command and consistency in his starts. It has seemed that he is typically good for one or two innings in a start that can come before or after things fall apart. The second time through the order has proven the most troublesome, as he has allowed 22 runs and issued 12 walks. The numbers, a third time through the order, haven’t proven much better. If he can attack the zone and find his spots, Lorenzen can be quite effective, but that consistency has eluded him.

In his career, he has made 11 appearances, including seven starts, against the Angels and has a 3.80 ERA. In 13 appearances at Angel Stadium, he sports a 3.47 ERA.

The Angels will send out the 22-year-old right-hander Walbert Ureña (2-4, 2.44 ERA). The rookie Ureña has done well to start his big league career, recording four quality starts in eight starts. His first two appearances of the year came out of the bullpen before he was moved to the rotation, where he has thrived. In May, he posted a 1.64 ERA over 33 innings. He went at least five innings in each outing, going six innings in three of them. He allowed more than one run just once and has done well limiting contact. However, he can struggle with command, allowing at least three walks in four of six starts last month. He can get strikeouts, but if the Rockies can work deep counts, they may be able to knock him out early since his season high pitch count is 93 pitches and he hasn’t worked past the sixth inning.

First Pitch: 7:38 pm MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Lineups:

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The waiting game continued Wednesday evening, the story looming over anything that happened on the field for the Yankees. 

With so much uncertainty swirling about the status of Aaron Judge, a bone bruise near his right rib cage that’s impacting his swing and how much time the Yankees’ superstar could miss, the only thing that’d become certain by first pitch was that he wasn’t in the lineup for a second consecutive night.

Judge, who last played Sunday, underwent imaging on the team’s day off Monday, met with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad on Tuesday and saw a specialist Wednesday.

When manager Aaron Boone met with reporters before the game, the specialist was still reviewing the images, preventing Boone from getting an answer he’d hoped to have at that point. 

Judge was left to work out in the weight room, get treatment and await his fate — whether this was a best-case scenario that didn’t involve the injured list, a short stint on the IL or something more long term that could threaten to derail the Yankees’ strong start.

And the Yankees were left to tweak their lineup, with José Caballero in right field and Ben Rice as their lineup’s power source. 

Asked how long the Yankees would go without Judge being an option before making a transaction, Boone said he didn’t know.

“It kind of depends on probably this diagnosis with the doctors and seeing where he’s at [Wednesday] and [Thursday],” Boone said.

So the Yankees needed to pivot again. They needed to start Caballero in right field again, a spot the utilityman — who Boone said the Yankees “trust in a lot of places” — hadn’t played since September before opening the game there Monday. 

They needed to rely on Rice, in just his second full MLB season, as their lineup’s anchor, banking on the lefty slugger’s ability to adapt if pitchers approach him differently without Judge lurking in the on-deck circle. Rice entered Wednesday’s game with a six-game streak of reaching base multiple times — his second tear of that length this season — and had hit .500 with 11 RBIs across that stretch, adding to his 17 homers and 44 RBIs this season.

“I don’t think he’s stepping into anything,” Boone said of Rice. “Nothing changes. He’s been one of the best players in the league. There’s not a requirement to now do more. It’s not a, ‘He’s gotta go to another level.’ I don’t know where you go.”

Boone and the Yankees hoped initially that Judge, someone they’ve struggled without in recent seasons, could miss only a few days and that they avoided anything serious.

His last stint on the IL occurred in July 2025 — and caused him to miss 10 games — due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. He also missed more than a month in 2023 with a torn ligament in his big right toe. 

It forced the Yankees to find ways to cobble together production to replace the three-time American League MVP, who also won the AL batting title last year (.331 average) and has collected another 17 homers to start 2026.

Recently, though, Judge struggled, going just 17-for-82 (.207) across his 22 games prior to Tuesday with 26 strikeouts. His average dipped to .248. He collected just six extra-base hits across that stretch and launched just one homer since May 11.

Judge went a career-worst 11 games without an RBI last month, too. 

It was a concerning stretch, even for one of the sport’s best hitters. Boone admitted Wednesday that “I think there is some correlation” between the nagging injury that gradually worsened and the slump.

“He’s learned how to play through things really well, which is a skill and it requires a skill and a toughness and just a know-how to kind of go through the day and what you need to do to be ready and things like that,” Boone said when asked if Judge’s durability and desire to play every game is a bit of a throwback.

“I think he takes a lot of pride in that durability. He had some injuries earlier in his career that derailed him a number of games, so it’s important that he goes to the post and is available and he’s done a great job of that.”

Boone thought the Yankees were better equipped to handle a Judge absence than they were in past seasons. They failed in their first glimpse of life without Judge. Wednesday gave them another glimpse of how they could initially attempt to survive, regardless of his absence’s length.

It hasn’t been an easy first year with the Mets for Bo Bichette.

After signing a lucrative three-year, $126 million deal in the offseason to be a big part of the offense and help replace some of the production lost in free agency, Bichette hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Entering Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, Bichette was hitting .213 with a .570 OPS and was stuck in an 0-for-16 slump over the last handful of games. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Bichette, known as a great hitter throughout his career with runners in scoring position, was hitting .196 in those situations this season.

However, not only did Bichette snap his hitless streak in the series finale with a 4-for-4 day, he also came through in a big spot in the fourth inning when he singled in two runs with the bases loaded to break a 1-1 tie.

“Really good day for him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “That first at-bat he hits that bullet to right field and then it’s just kind of a typical game from Bo when he’s going well. He’s gonna spread the ball around, he’s gonna hit line drives. Runner at third with the infield in he gets a sac fly. A very good day for him offensively.”

Despite Bichette’s struggles for the majority of the season, Mendoza hasn’t moved him lower in the order, keeping him near the top of the lineup in hopes that he gets things going. That strategy paid off for him on Wednesday.

Mendoza also believes Bichette has run into some tough luck this season, saying he’s hit the ball hard but doesn’t have the results to show for it.

“They’re human. When you look up and the numbers aren’t what they’re supposed to be at, [and] everybody keeps telling you after a good swing, after a bullet, it gets tiring at times,” the skipper said. “They wanna see results. Hopefully now he continues to get results and he gets going here, but I feel like this guy has been very unlucky, I hate to say it. He’s a good hitter.”

For what it’s worth, the stats back up Mendoza’s claims. Bichette’s xBA is .276 – a full 50 points higher than his .226 batting average and much closer to his career .288 number – which ranks in the 79th percentile, per Baseball Savant. 

Bichette’s average exit velocity (90.9 mph), hard-hit percentage (45.5 percent) and squared-up percentage (28 percent) all also rank highly around the league. Still, at the end of the day, results are what matter the most.

“I’m not gonna sit here and say I’ve been at my best,” Bichette said after admitting his latest performance felt good. “There’s been probably a lot of at-bats that could be better so just trying to focus on being more consistent.”

Bichette will have a chance at finding that consistency after an off day on Thursday. The Mets are back in action on Friday night against the San Diego Padres.

So what can he take from the success he found on Wednesday and implement it into the rest of the season?

“Just staying in the moment,” Bichette said. “There’s no secret recipe. Staying in the moment, getting good pitches to hit, competing. Whatever happens, happens and move on.”

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks, who would be back in the National League playoffs if the season ended today, were dealt a blow to their postseason hopes when ace Corbin Burnes was shut down in his throwing recovery program from Tommy John surgery, likely sidelining him at least until September.

Burnes, who signed a six-year, $210 million free-agent contract a year ago, the largest in franchise history, was expected to return to the Diamondbacks around the All-Star Game to provide the D-backs a huge lift in the second half.

Instead, Burnes was diagnosed with a teres major strain after throwing about 18 pitches in his first outing against hitters a few days ago, and will have to re-start another throwing program, perhaps in July.

“It’s a blow, and it’s something that we’re going to have to deal with,’’ Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s what we do in this game, and we’ve got very qualified players in that clubhouse that are going to get some opportunities. We’ve got five really good starting pitchers right now and they’re doing a really good job. I want that to continue.’’

Burnes underwent an MRI Monday that showed no further damage, but the Diamondbacks still don’t know what caused his setback.

“There’s no real defined answer,’’ Lovullo said. “He felt it after his last outing. He felt like the next day something was just a little tight. He threw a little bit, and it just amplified a little bit. …

“We’ll just remain hopeful. We want him to get healthy once he gets there.’’

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (27-35), who are 6-4 in their last 10 games, will continue their nine-game homestand tonight as they play the second game of a three-game series against their former divisional opponent, the Pittsburgh Pirates (33-28).

RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 1.34 ERA), who was acquired from the Pirates this offseason, will open the series against his former club tonight opposite defending Cy Young winner RHP Paul Skenes (6-5, 2.89 ERA).

ABOUT Arrighetti: Arrighetti is fresh off of winning the AL Pitcher of the Month award following a month that saw him go 5-1 in six starts.

VS. THE PIRATES: The Astros are hosting the Pirates in Houston for their first series in the Bayou City since July of 2024.

Since the Astros moved to the AL in 2013, the Astros and Pirates have nearly split their 19 matchups evenly with the Pirates owning a 10-9 record. Historically, these teams have played each other 718 times, with the Astros going 348-371.

YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 191 career regular season home runs, which ties him for sixth in Astros history along with 3B Alex Bregman.

HOME RUNS IN ASTROS HISTORY (REG. SEASON):

1. Jeff Bagwell: 449 
2. Lance Berkman: 326          
3. Craig Biggio: 291 
4. Jose Altuve: 259
5. Jimmy Wynn: 223

T6.  Alex Bregman: 191

T6.  Yordan Alvarez: 191

TODAY’S AVAILABILITIES: The Astros clubhouse will be open to approved media at Daikin Park until 4 p.m. CT…Astros Manager Joe Espada will be made available in the Astros dugout at approx. 4 p.m.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, June 3, 7:10 p.m. CT

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network, SCHN2 (Spanish)

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Astros

SS Jeremy Pena

DH Yordan Alvarez

1B Christian Walker

3B Isaac Paredes

RF Cam Smith

CF Jake Meyers

LF Zach Dezenzo

2B Nick Allen

C Christian Vazquez

Pirates

1B Spencer Horwitz

2B Brandon Lowe

LF Bryan Reynolds

3B Nick Gonzales

CF O’neill Cruz

DH Marcell Ozuna

RF Jhostynxon Garcia

SS Jared Triolo

C Henry Davis

The Mets tried to pull off a double steal with Carson Benge on third earlier this season. 

Benge hesitated slightly, and ended up being gunned down at the plate. 

The rookie learned from the mistake, and was sure to make up for it the next time the play was called. 

That came on Wednesday afternoon in Seattle. 

Jared Young stepped to the plate with Juan Soto on first and Benge on third as the Mets pieced together a rally against Seattle right-hander George Kirby in the top of the third. 

Soto came into the day with just five stolen bases on the season, but he got a terrific read on Kirby and took off on just the second pitch of the at-bat. 

Seattle’s catcher Jhonny Pereda still decided to make the throw through to second, which immediately prompted Benge to start busting down the line towards home. 

The rookie came in easily, standing up for the Mets' third run of the inning. 

“That’s just part of his game,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “When him or A.J. [Ewing] are on-base, they are going to put pressure on the defense, they are going to try to create runs -- it’s good we were able to execute today.”

New York ended up tacking on another run just a few pitches later, and then held on for a  much-needed 7-1 victory to close out the series against the red-hot Mariners. 

For Benge, he says it was his first steal of home at any level. 

For the Mets, it was the franchise's first since Francisco Lindor executed that same play in Aug. 2023. 

The speedy 23-year-old is now 10-for-12 on stolen base attempts during his rookie campaign, pushing him into a tie for the eighth-most in the National League. 

The Mets execute the double steal to perfection to plate another run! pic.twitter.com/JVyjopvcUw

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 3, 2026