ST. LOUIS (KMOX/AP) - This seems almost poetic: St. Louis Cardinals slugger Nolan Arenado will face his former team for the first time and go against the pitcher who was involved in the trade for him.
Friday night is the start of a three-game series at Busch Stadium between the Colorado Rockies and Cardinals. First up, we have former Cardinals pitcher Austin Gomber vs the ace of St. Louis Jack Flaherty.
Gomber was the only MLB player of the five players dealt to Rockies for the eight-time Gold Glove winner on Feb. 1. The Rockies also agreed to pay St. Louis roughly $51 million of the $199 million remaining on Arenado’s contract at the time. He's currently 2-3 with a 5.90 ERA, 27 strikeouts and 20 walks in 19 innings.
It’s a deal that has many Rockies fans still seeing red heading into the three-game series in St. Louis. But Gomber, who should expect some kind of ovation from Cardinals Nation, has a chance to make a big statement.
Related
Arenado is 1-3 against lefty Austin Gomber, who along with four minor leaguers was dealt to the Colorado Rockies.
In another return to St. Louis, first baseman Matt Adams will be with Colorado. The former Cardinals slugger has been coming off the bench this season and has two hits in 10 at bats.
Related
Gone is Jeff Bridich, the general manager with whom Arenado had a falling out over the team’s direction. Bridich stepped away last month from a squad that’s currently last in the NL standings.
Arenado was a second-round pick by the Rockies in the 2009 amateur draft. He’s developed into a five-time All-Star third baseman and one of the slickest fielders in the game.
Arenado is hitting .276 with five home runs and 22 RBIs this season.
© 2021 KMOX/AP (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram