Colorado Rockies series preview: It’s a great time to play the World Champs

The Colorado Rockies head to Texas to start a brief, two game series with the reigning World Champion Houston Astros, who are reeling, as they are 12-15 in their last 27 games, including five of their last seven games. In more ways than one, it is a great time for the Rockies to face them.

The Colorado Rockies have won three in a row as they took three of four in their series last weekend from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Entering Tuesday, the Dodgers, Rockies, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are all within one game reach of each other, with Arizona at the top of the pack.

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The Astros, on the other hand, are reeling as they were swept in a four-game series this weekend against their division rival, the Seattle Mariners. They have had a bevy of injuries that have hurt them and many of them are still on the disabled list, including the reigning AL MVP second baseman Jose Altuve, starting pitcher Lance McCullers, and their All-Star center fielder George Springer so, this is a perfect time to face them. The Astros are also in a similar spot as the Rockies in a close, three-team divisional race.

Also, for this brief two game series, the Rockies will be playing with the designated hitter … and they will need it. As you may remember, the Rockies were without their MVP candidate third baseman, Nolan Arenado, for much of the series due to a nagging shoulder injury. However, as we discussed in this article after Arenado spoke with the media, including our own Kevin Henry and Jake Shapiro, it only bothers him when he extends his arm out to throw.

He and Rockies manager Bud Black were hoping that he would be able to return to the field but he was only able to pinch hit for the rest of the Dodgers series and is still day-to-day. But, with having an off day on Monday and playing the Astros today and Wednesday, the Rockies will still be able to get Nolan’s bat in the lineup without having to have him play in pain defensively.

Nolan spoke to the media again after Sunday’s walkoff win at Coors, including Kevin and Jake, he spoke more on what he could do for today’s game.

"“I’ll be in there probably Tuesday, when we get back from the day off, either DH’ing or at third base.”"

When asked if his shoulder issue had gotten better, he said that it was doing a lot better than it was Saturday and it was progressing every day. With the off day, it obviously provided Nolan with some more rest for the shoulder.

The Rockies also noted on Twitter yesterday that Nolan was still officially “day-to-day.”

Even though it’s a brief, two game series, it should prove to be an interesting series with the reigning World Series champions, especially if the Rockies can take advantage of their play recently and their injuries.