8-2-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
After a long night for both teams last night, the Pirates will look to have a successful and more one-sided affair tonight if they can get to the Rockies starter, lefty Austin Gomber.
Gomber, who made his debut against the Pirates on June 2, 2018, was famously part of the ill-fated trade which sent Nolan Arenado from the Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2021 season.
Entering play today, Gomber has a 6.28 ERA through 38.2 innings this season. The 31-year old southpaw missed two months of play due to left shoulder soreness but in his short sample size, the results haven’t been good.
With a career-low strikeout rate (12.3%), career-highs in both oBA (.321) and WHIP (1.66), he might be yearning to go back on the Injured List at this point.
The strikeout rate, in particular, would be the 4th lowest mark in MLB and the opponent batting average would be the 4th highest – both behind yesterday’s starter, Senzatela, and tomorrow’s projected starter, Bradley Blalock (more on that tomorrow) as he is another Rockies arm who doesn’t miss bats and relies on weak contact for success.
Unfortunately for him, with the vast terrain of Coors Field, those balls tend to find grass as he has a 7.52 ERA through 20.1 frames at home compared to a slightly more serviceable 4.91 ERA over 18.1 innings on the road – and much of that damage at home has come via the small ball.
Gomber throws a high-80s fastball and mid-70s knuckle-curve with a slider and changeup both in the low-80s. He works up in the zone with the fastball while driving both the curve and slider down and in against right handed hitters while using the changeup down and away in these situations.
Righties have been having the most success against his fastball (.365 BA and .673 SLG) and curve (.333 BA and .469 SLG) so look for those hanging curves or elevated heaters over the meat of the plate.
Lefties have mostly been seeing a slider/fastball combo with the occasional curve but will want to focus on the fastball as opposing lefties have 5 hits in 12 plate appearances against Gomber’s fastball with some pretty solid results for the hitters.
Like yesterday, this is a beatable opposing starter and a winnable game. Look to attack heat and be ready to hit as Gomber doesn’t walk a lot of batters and DEFINITELY doesn’t miss bats so get barrel to the ball and hit some bombs!
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