Roadtrip Recap/Braves Series Preview

The Rox struggled on their recent roadtrip, going 1-2 against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. The offense neglected to make the trip, as the Rockies only scored 8 runs in 6 games and were shut out twice. The Rox scored 4 runs in their 2 wins. When the offense is this bad, the pitching has to be perfect, and while it was good on this trip, it wasn’t good enough to offset the lack of production from the Rox bats.

The Rockies return to Coors Field tonight to meet the NL East leading Braves for 3 games before an off day and a 3 game set with the Dodgers. This is an important homestand against 2 of the better teams in the NL, and if the Rockies still have playoff aspirations, they’re going to need to win some games soon. The Rox are 7 games back in the Wild Card chase, and 11 behind the Pads in the division.

Probable Pitchers

Hammel (8-7, 4.36) vs. Hudson (14-5, 2.15)

De La Rosa (4-4, 4.74) vs. Lowe (11-11, 4.32)

Rogers (2-2, 4.53) vs. Jurrjens (5-4, 3.91)

Three Questions

Can the Rockies get and maintain some momentum to make a playoff run? After a 2-4 road trip, the Rockies need to win some games at home against two of the best teams in the NL. However, the Braves and Dodgers are both beatable away from home, going 29-34 and 24-35, respectively. The Rockies home success has been well documented here and elsewhere, and they need to continue to play well at Coors Field to stay relevant in the playoff race.
Can the Rockies hitters rebound against the tough Braves starters? The Braves will send 3 tough starters to the mound in this series, and the Rockies’ bats were ice cold on the recent road trip. Will the Rox find a way to score against the Braves?
Will Derrek Lee make an impact for the Braves? Derrek Lee has struggled against Colorado this season, going 4-21 with 5 Ks against the Rockies this year. Will changing teams help the 1B change his luck at the plate against the Rox? Let’s hope not.

Series to Watch

The Reds visit the Giants this week in a series that Rox fans should watch closely. The Reds have a 3.5 game lead over the Cardinals in the Central, and the Giants are 5 games ahead of the Rox in the Wild Card and Divisional races. A Cards sweep would help out the Rockies, assuming they can take care of the Braves.