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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 24: Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyaki Sugano (11) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during a Spring Training game on March 24, 2026, at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After being swept by the Marlins in opening weekend, the Rockies will see if going to Canada will help them find their first win of the 2026 season as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays tonight.
It won’t be easy for the Rockies (0-3) as the Blue Jays (3-0) are not only the defending American League Champions, but they also went 3-0 against the A’s over the weekend. The Rockies made it close, losing all three games by one run to Miami and were outscored 10-7 in the series. Toronto also won two one-run games, but outscored the A’s 16-11.
While it wasn’t an ideal start for the Rockies, it’s a small sample size and it’s too soon to draw conclusions. However, in addition to suffering a walk-off loss on Sunday, the Rockies also faced travel delays heading north of the border.
Colorado is hoping RHP Tomoyuki Sugano can have a solid start in his Rockies debut, and maybe even become the first starting pitcher of 2026 to make it to the sixth inning. The Rockies signed Sugano, a free agent with 12 years of experience in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League, on Feb. 10 to a one-year, $5.1 million deal just before spring training. Pitching for Japan in the World Baseball Classic this spring, Sugano threw four scoreless innings in his only start.
Sugano, 36, made his MLB debut with Baltimore last season and posted a 4.64 ERA in 30 starts (157 innings). On the bright side, he throws strikes and posted a 5.3% walk rate, in addition to throwing 106 strikeouts. On the downside, he gave up an AL-leading 33 homers. Sugano pitch mix features a split finger, a sweeping slider, two fastballs — a four-seamer and a “shuuto” that is sometimes identified as a sinker, a cutter and a curveball.
The Rockies will face RHP Cody Ponce, who, like Sugano, will be making his first start of the season and debuting for a new team. Ponce pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020-21, making 20 appearances (five starts) with a 5.86 ERA in 55 ⅓ innings with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks, while giving up 13 homers. He’s spent the last four seasons playing in Japan and Korea, putting up an outstanding 2025 where he recorded a 1.89 ERA with 252 strikeouts over 180 2/3 innings.
Earlier on Monday, the Rockies announced their minor league rosters.
First Pitch: 5:07 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network (1:55 p.m. pregame)
SBN Site: Bluebird Banter
Lineups:
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