MLB Game Preview - Colorado at Cincinnati

Sun Jul 28, 2019 1:10 PM EDT

Alex Wood will make his long-awaited season debut on Sunday afternoon as the host Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies play the rubber match of their three-game series.

The left-hander has been on the injured list all season with an ailing back, as well as setbacks in his recovery.

Wood has been champing at the bit to make his mark since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-player trade in December. The deal also included Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer and Matt Kemp.

"I've been around a little now, but you come to a new place, and the guys respect you, and they know what you've done in your career and the impact you can have, but that's different than having that impact that year with that club," Wood told the media recently.

"It (stunk) really bad not being able to contribute up until this point. The whole time my goal has been to get healthy and be back as fast as possible in order to contribute to this ball club. We have a really good group of guys in the clubhouse, and I'm just excited to get started on Sunday."

Wood recorded a 1-1 mark with a 3.18 ERA in four rehab assignments spread over Triple-A Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga. The 28-year-old posted a 9-7 record with a 3.68 ERA for the Dodgers last season, one year removed from being tabbed as an All-Star.

Wood would be wise to keep a keen eye on Daniel Murphy, who has tormented Cincinnati this season and is 5-for-14 against the left-hander in his career.

Murphy, who had one of the Rockies' five hits in Saturday's 3-1 setback, is 11-for-21 with seven extra-base hits (four doubles, three homers), 11 RBIs and seven runs scored in five games against the Reds this season.

Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez and Josh VanMeter have been hot in their own right. The former belted a two-run shot on Saturday for his 11th homer in July, while the latter has gone deep in each of his last three starts.

"Suarez is hot, but he's also been consistent," Reds manager David Bell said. "He is a leader in so many ways. He has quietly done his job.

"VanMeter has done a lot to contribute. He is making the most of his opportunities, especially over the last week or so."

Colorado right-hander Peter Lambert (2-2, 5.93 ERA) will be tasked with keeping Suarez, VanMeter and the Reds in check on Sunday. The rookie fell to 0-2 in his last six starts on Tuesday after allowing three runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of an 11-1 setback at Washington.

Lambert will be making his ninth career start overall and first versus Cincinnati. The 22-year-old has not faced any member of the Reds at the major league level.

The reeling Rockies have lost 10 of their last 13 games, but that doesn't mean they are hanging their heads.

"We'll have to come back (Sunday) and get a series win," Rockies catcher Tony Wolters said, per the Denver Post.

--Field Level Media