Series Preview: Cincinnati Reds vs Colorado Rockies

zJul 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of Coors field during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

SERIES KEYS FOR THE ROCKIES

Rusin returns!

Chris Rusin‘s first start for the Colorado Rockies was against these Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark, and he threw seven strong innings for a win that surprised pretty much everybody. Now, he gets to see that club once again — this time, in Denver — and he’s been throwing the ball pretty well in his last few starts, too.

Can Rusin lead the Rockies to another win on Saturday against a very good pitcher in Johnny Cueto? Will Cueto be auditioning for the trade circuit with this, possibly his final start in a Cincinnati uniform? We shall see…

Any Rockies auditions too?

The Reds may be auditioning Cueto and Mike Leake over the next few days, but what about the Rockies? Are Carlos Gonzalez or Troy Tulowitzki, or even a guy like Nick Hundley or DJ LeMahieu coming up for a trade audition?

With a road trip coming up in conjunction with the deadline, the next three games might be as good as any to audition somebody and get them priced to move. Again… we shall see…

Take advantage of the Reds’ young pitching and overworked bullpen

Cueto aside, Anthony DeSclafani and Michael Lorenzen have combined for 46 big league games — it’s the best time to grab young pitchers when they are on the road in altitude and vulnerable, right? Both DeSclafani and Lorenzen have put up good numbers this season, but it doesn’t mean the best hitting team in the National League couldn’t jump all over them in Denver.

Related to that, the Reds’ bullpen has two really good arms — Aroldis Chapman and JJ Hoover — and a disaster across the rest of the depth chart. If the Rockies can get to the pen early in at least two of these games, they’ve got a legitimate shot to win the series (even a series in which Eddie Butler and Kyle Kendrick pitch!).

Next: Let's Meet The Cincinnati Reds