The Colorado Rockies (39-60, 5th NL West) are in the nation’s capital Tuesday to play game two of a three-game series against National League rivals the Washington Nationals (41-58, NL East). Colorado was defeated by the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Sunday but won each of the first two games of that three game series and the Rockies have won four of the last six. Washington defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-1 on Sunday and completed a three-game sweep of the Giants in that series. Washington has also won four of its last six. Colorado will play without nine pitchers as well as position players Charlie Blackmon, Sean Bouchard and Brendan Rodgers. Washington will play without seven pitchers as well as position players Israel Pineda and Victor Robles.
Colorado is 28th or worse out of 30 teams in four major pitching categories. The Rockies are 28th in Quality Starts with 22 while dropping to 29th in both team ERA at 5.50 and WHIP at 1.52. Colorado is dead last or 30th in batting average allowed at .281. Austin Gomber is leading Colorado in victories with eight and in strikeouts with 68. Gomber gets the nod on the mound Tuesday for Colorado. This season the left hander is 8-8 with an ERA of 6.18.
At the plate, Colorado is 16th in team batting average with .250 but drops to 19th in slugging percentage with .403 and 24th in on base percentage at .311. Colorado has scored 428 runs which is 21st. Ryan McMahon is leading Colorado in home runs with 15 and RBI with 46 while C.J. Cron is second in home runs with 11 and Ezequiel Tovar is tied for the lead in RBI with 46. Colorad o has hit 188 doubles, 14 triples and 98 home runs in 99 games.