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From Nationals Park in Washington, DC, the Rockies and Nationals face off in an NL matchup. This one gets started at 6:45 PM ET, and the Rockies are 46-79 compared to the Nationals at 56-69. Colorado is 5th in the NL West, while the Nationals are 4th in the NL East.
The money line odds have the Nationals at -149, while the Rockies are the slight underdog at +126. Tuesday’s over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and Austin Gomber is starting for the Rockies, while the Nationals are going with DJ Herz.
Colorado vs. Washington Key Information
- Teams: Rockies at Nationals
- Where: Nationals Park Washington
- Date: Tuesday, August 20th
- Betting Odds WSH -149 | COL +126 O/U 8
The Rockies Can Win If…
Through 23 starts, Austin Gomber has a record of 3-8 and an ERA of 4.82. His WHIP for the season is 1.31. Gomber’s last outing came on August 13th, where he finished with a no-decision. In that start, he went six innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits. Looking back further, Gomber had given up at least five earned runs in three straight starts before that outing. He has made eight quality starts this year, and his ERA on the road is 6.36 compared to 4.98 at home.
So far this season, the Rockies offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. At home, they have been a little better, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .244, and their team on-base percentage is just 17th in the league. The Rockies have been pretty good at avoiding strikeouts, but they are also near the bottom of the league in terms of walks drawn.
Michael Toglia, Brenton Doyle, and Ezequiel Tovar are all tied for the team lead in home runs. Toglia is batting just .222 for the season, but he does have 20 homers. Doyle is batting .267 and has gone deep 20 times. Tovar is hitting .273 and has 55 RBIs, which is 2nd on the team. Brendan Rodgers has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 11/36 in his last nine games, with two homers and eight RBIs.
- The Rockies are 4-6 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Rockies are 3-2 vs. the run line.
- Colorado has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
- The Rockies have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Rockies are 3-7
- Looking back across the Rockies last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
- Colorado has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Rockies have averaged 3.8 runs per game on offense
The Nationals Can Win If…
Washington is sending DJ Herz to the mound today vs. the Rockies, and he will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Orioles. In that start, he took the loss, going six innings and giving up two earned runs. Looking at his overall numbers, Herz has made 12 starts, and his record for the season is 2-5. The right-hander has an ERA of 4.25 and a WHIP of 1.31. Opposing batters are hitting .238 off Herz this season. One positive note for Herz is that he has a strikeout per nine innings figure of 11.13.
So far this season, the Nationals offense has been one of the worst home run hitting teams in the league, and they are also just 19th in the league in runs scored at 4.2 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .244, which is 13th in the league, and are 5th in the league in fewest strikeouts per game. Washington’s collective on-base percentage of .311 is also 13th in the league.
CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. are the Nationals’ top home run hitters this season, with 17 and 14 home runs, respectively. Both players are also tied for the team lead with 59 RBIs. Garcia Jr. comes into the game batting .291 for the season. Keibert Ruiz has gone deep three times in his last seven games but is hitting just .200 over that stretch.
- The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Nationals are 2-3 vs. the run line.
- Washington has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
- The Nationals have an average of 2.6 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Nationals are 2-8
- Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
- Washington has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 3.7 runs per game on offense
Nationals Look to Build Momentum Against Rockies
As the Washington Nationals gear up to face the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series starting Tuesday, they’re focused on continuing their recent strong performances, particularly from key players like catcher Keibert Ruiz. After a slow start to the season, Ruiz is heating up at the plate, showing why he’s a cornerstone of the Nationals’ rebuilding efforts.
Keibert Ruiz Heating Up for Nationals
Keibert Ruiz comes into this series on a hot streak, having homered three times in his last three games. His recent surge was instrumental in the Nationals snapping a four-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Since June 29, Ruiz has only struck out eight times in his last 137 at-bats, a sign of his improved plate discipline and hitting approach.
“(Ruiz is) staying behind the ball a lot better,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s able to use his hands a lot better, and he’s driving the ball, which is awesome. We’ve always thought and we’ve seen it, that this is what Keibert can do.”
James Wood Providing a Boost
Rookie left fielder James Wood has also been a bright spot for Washington. Over his last 21 games, Wood is hitting .373 with three homers and 15 RBIs, giving the Nationals a much-needed spark in the lineup. As the Nationals continue their rebuild, contributions from young players like Ruiz and Wood are crucial for the team’s future success.
Rockies Look to Build on Momentum
The Colorado Rockies enter the series with some momentum after winning two out of three games against the San Diego Padres. First baseman Michael Toglia has been on a roll, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. The return of Nolan Jones from the injured list also strengthens the Rockies’ lineup, as he’s expected to play regularly in left field.
“Three rookie pitchers, eight innings, against a team in contention that has been playing great the last three weeks on a hot Sunday afternoon in an offensive environment,” Rockies manager Bud Black said, praising his team’s performance against the Padres. “So great job. I’m proud of them.”
Pitching Matchup: Austin Gomber vs. DJ Herz
Tuesday’s game will feature a pitching duel between two left-handers. Austin Gomber (3-8, 4.82 ERA) will take the mound for the Rockies. Gomber has been good at limiting walks, recording his ninth consecutive start with one or fewer walks in his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, he has struggled against Washington in the past, with a 5.47 ERA in five career starts.
The Nationals will counter with rookie DJ Herz (2-5, 4.25 ERA), who is making his second career start against Colorado. Herz pitched well in his last outing, allowing two runs over six innings in a 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He’s been more effective at home, posting a 3.65 ERA in eight starts at Nationals Park, compared to a 5.50 ERA on the road.
Series Outlook: Key Players in Focus
As the Nationals and Rockies face off, all eyes will be on players like Keibert Ruiz, James Wood, Michael Toglia, and Nolan Jones—players whose performances could be game-changers in the series. The Nationals are counting on their emerging stars to keep driving the offense, while the Rockies aim to sustain their recent momentum on the road.
With both teams relying on young talent and looking to build for the future, this series promises to be an intriguing matchup between two clubs eager to see their prospects shine. Fans can expect a competitive series as both teams seek to capitalize on their recent successes and continue their development.
The Lean
As the Rockies head to Washington to take on the Nationals, we are leaning towards the Rockies to come out on top. We also have this as the 8th highest-scoring game of the day and are leaning towards the over. The Nationals have the 4th best strikeout projection, but we still like the Rockies to pick up the win. Colorado starter Austin Gomber has the 2nd worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.
