The Colorado Rockies (39-59, 5th NL West) are in the nation's capital on Monday to play game one of a three-game series at Nationals Park against the Washington Nationals (40-58, 4tn NL East). Colorado defeated the Miami Marlins 4-3 Saturday for their second straight victory and have won four of the last five. Nevertheless the Rockies are last in the National League West 18 ½ games out of first place. Washington defeated the San Francisco Giants 10-1 on Saturday for their second consecutive victory. The Nationals are also last, but in the National League East, 23 ½ games behind first place. Colorado will play without nine pitchers as well as position players Charlie Blackmon, Sean Bouchard, and Brendan Rodgers. Washington will play without seven p itchers as well as position players Victor Robles and Israel Pineda.
The Colorado Rockies have struggled on the mound all season. Colorado is 27th in Quality Starts with just 22 through 98 games played. Colorado is 29th or next to last in both team ERA at 5.50 and WHIP at 1.52. while the Rockies are last in batting average allowed at .281. Monday’s starting pitcher Austin Gomber is leading Colorado in victories with eight and in strikeouts with 68. This season the left-hander is 8-8 with an ERA of 6.18.
At the plate, Colorado is producing much better than on the mound. The Rockies have the 21st most runs scored with 426 while averaging as a team .251, which is 16th, at the plate with an on-base percentage of .311 which is 24th and slugging percentage of .403 which is 19th. Ryan McMahon is leading Colorado in home runs with 15 and RBI with 46. C.J. Cron is second in home runs with 1 1, while Elias Diaz is tied for first in RBI with 46. Colorado has hit 187 doubles, 14 triples and 96 home runs in 98 games.