The Rockies, who just won six of seven games (July 16th to July 23rd), are now in a funk. They’ll be coming off a three-game sweep in the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals, where they only batted at .229 and also surrendered 21 runs on 39 hits.
With the Rockies also having lost three of the four meetings with the Nationals this season, which saw them allow an eye-popping 42 runs in the last three games, it’s apparent that the skid could extend.
Nolan Arenado does have nine hits, nine RBIs and a pair of home runs in the past week, and Charlie Blackmon is 8-for-18 with eight RBIs and two homers in four games against the Nats this season – which is good. However, projected starting pitcher German Marquez, who only has a 4.20 ERA on the year and has allowed eight or more hits in two of his last three starts, is looking like he’s about to get pounded.
The Nationals’ ability to have an unforgiving offensive barrage was on full display once again. They thumped the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, 15-2, for their 10th win in 13 games. The Nats scored 13 combined runs in the third and fourth innings, highlighted by the five homers in the third.
Considering the aforementioned beatings they have done to the Rockies, we can expect Washington’s three-headed monster – Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, and Ryan Zimmerman – to continue the leaving a bloodbath.
Don’t be surprised, though, if Trea Turner, who has smoked Colorado for two homers and 11 RBIs in their four previous meetings, and Wilmer Difo, who’s been having a good week and will be fresh off a two-hit, one-homer game, to also join in the fun.
The defense, meanwhile, won’t be as threatening, as the shaky Tanner Roark is the probable starter. The 30-year-old is 8-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 20 appearances this season, and the Nats are 2-6 in his last eight starts.
