The Rockies are trying to carry over a much-needed win when they face the Nationals in the third game of their four-game set, and Colorado finally gave itself something to build on with a 3-1 victory.
That game had the kind of ingredients the Rockies have been searching for: steady pitching, a key swing from Hunter Goodman, and just enough closing work to get it home. Goodman, back in the lineup, launched his 35th home run of the season on Tuesday night and kept rolling through a 2026 campaign that has stood out even with Colorado sitting at 51-81.
For the Rockies, the win meant more than just one in the standings. It snapped a seven-game losing streak and came right after Monday’s rough night, when Colorado was buried by 13 runs. Jordan Romano picked up his 13th save of the season, while Mark Manfredi earned his first win of the year after giving up only one hit, no earned runs and two strikeouts.
Now the challenge shifts to keeping that momentum alive, because the pitching has to settle down after the club was beaten up in back-to-back games.
Washington comes in at 62-72 and sits fourth in the NL East. The Nationals also hold the edge in the season series, 3-2, which means Colorado needs wins today and tomorrow if it wants to take control of that matchup.
Tanner Gordon gets the start for the Rockies. He’s 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 76.2 innings, and he’s given up 16 home runs this season. Colorado needs a cleaner outing from him, plain and simple, if it wants a shot at turning this series.
Matt Waldron will start for Washington. He’s 1-2 with a 7.54 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.
At the plate, Colorado will look to Willi Castro, who has been swinging it well over the last 10 games. During that stretch, he has two doubles and two home runs, and when he’s locked in, he’s been able to give the Rockies a lot of different looks.
For the Nationals, CJ Abrams has been the anchor. He leads the club with a .276 batting average and has added 29 home runs and 26 doubles.
Colorado’s injury list includes Kyle Freeland (15-Day IL, neck), Kyle Karros (7-Day IL, concussion), Sean Sullivan (15-Day IL, undisclosed), McCade Brown (60-Day IL, shoulder), José Quintana (60-Day IL, elbow), Kris Bryant (60-Day IL, back), Welinton Herrera (60-Day IL, elbow), Chase Dollander (60-Day IL, elbow), Pierson Ohl (60-Day IL, elbow) and RJ Petit (60-Day IL, elbow).
Washington’s injured list features Drew Millas (10-Day IL, finger), Connelly Early (60-Day IL, elbow), James Wood (10-Day IL, oblique), DJ Herz (60-Day IL, elbow), Josiah Gray (60-Day IL, elbow), PJ Poulin (60-Day IL, flexor), Richard Lovelady (60-Day IL, tricep), Mitchell Parker (60-Day IL, elbow) and Ken Waldichuk (60-Day IL, forearm).
In Other News...
Former Rockies Arm Is Getting Another Shot And Colorado Fans Will Notice
Michael Lorenzen is back in the spotlight after his brief stay with the Rockies ended earlier this month, and the right-hander now appears headed for another opportunity in Toronto. The Blue Jays have not formally announced the move, but Lorenzen has already set up a locker in the clubhouse and arrived at Rogers Centre, a strong sign that the deal is essentially done.
For Colorado fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a rotation-needy pitcher can move on after a roster shakeup. Toronto needs depth badly with injuries piling up in its starting staff, but the Blue Jays also have a full 40-man roster and still need to clear room before Lorenzen can officially settle in and give them innings. [Read more 🡒]
Gabriel Hughes Is Putting Rockies Rotation Patience To The Test
Gabriel Hughes gave the Rockies another look at what their rotation may eventually become, even if the immediate results were messy. The rookie right-hander worked five innings against the Nationals in a 7-1 loss, and while the line showed seven hits and four walks, he also showed enough fight to keep competing through traffic as Colorado continues sorting through younger arms on the staff.
Warren Schaeffer has said Hughes is getting better, and that matters for a club still trying to blend newer pitchers into the rotation without asking for perfection right away. The larger question is how long the Rockies can keep waiting for sharper command to catch up with the stuff, especially when weak contact and small mistakes are starting to blur together in the outcomes. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rockies Favorite Is Carrying Colorados Underdog Spirit Somewhere New
Eric Young, Sr. has taken the same underdog sensibility that made him a Rockies favorite and brought it into a new setting, this time as manager of the Los Angeles Queens in the Womens Professional Baseball League. The former Colorado All-Star has been talking about his coaching approach and the reason he wanted to be part of the league, which opened its inaugural season on Aug. 1.
Youngs connection to the job goes beyond simply lending his name to a new venture. He has pointed to the challenges the Queens and the rest of the leagues players face, seeing echoes of the path he took as a player who had to carve out his own place in the game. For Rockies fans who remember the energy he brought in Colorado, it is a familiar kind of pride, even if the uniform and the setting are different now. [Read more 🡒]