Colorado Rockies podcast: Previewing the Houston Astros series

After finishing their homestand with one of their best all-around games of the season, the Colorado Rockies head to the Lone Star State to take on the Houston Astros in a two-game series beginning on Tuesday.

Using home runs by Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado along with a solid starting effort from Kyle Freeland and four shutout innings from the bullpen, the Colorado Rockies climbed out of the National League West cellar with a 6-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. The victory gave Colorado a series win, just their third since mid-June.

Now at 52-60 on the season, Colorado will hope to carry some of that momentum into an abbreviated road series with arguably the best team in the American League.

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Houston was the clear winner at the trade deadline, among their moves grabbing Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies are very familiar with Greinke and will get another look at him on Tuesday night in his Houston debut. German Marquez will oppose him on the mound. He will be looking for his fourth consecutive start of six innings or more where he has allowed two runs or less.

In Wednesday’s matinee, Colorado will send Peter Lambert to the mound against Houston’s Gerrit Cole. It will be the first time this season the Rockies have faced Cole, who did not see action in Houston’s two-game sweep of a series at Coors Field on July 2-3.

During that two-game sweep, Houston flashed a potent mixture of pitching and power hitting to outscore the Rockies 9-8 and 4-2. Yuli Gurriel was the main masher during the two-game set, launching three home runs.

So what will happen in Houston? We give you some statistics and subplots to be aware of when the two teams square off at Minute Maid Park. Click below to listen to the podcast.