Reds vs. Rockies: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Reds offense looks to take advantage of the mountain air.

As is usually the case with the Redlegs, it wasn’t easy, but they escaped Pittsburgh securing another series victory by outlasting the Pirates in extra-innings yesterday. Additionally, the Cincinnati Reds (17-17) haven’t dropped a series since the weekend debacle in St. Louis nearly three weeks ago.

Cincinnati, winners in six of their last 10 games, begin play today 3.5 games back of the red hot St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. Visiting a struggling Colorado Rockies team is exactly what the doctor ordered to narrow the division gap.

This is a much different Rockies club than the Reds encountered on their last trip to Denver in July of 2019. Former Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado has taken his skills to St. Louis, and outfielder David Dahl who earned an All-Star selection in 2019, is now playing for the Texas Rangers.

To say the Rockies (13-24) have a mountain to climb in the National League West is an understatement. Entering play today, Colorado is already 9.5 games back in the division and has dropped five of their last six.

That’s not to say the Rockies are completely void of talented players. Shortstop Trevor Story is as good as anyone in the game at the position, and even though he’s off to a slow start, four-time All-Star outfielder Charlie Blackmon is always a threat.

However, if the Reds will be victorious this weekend, they will need to re-write history as Coors Field has left the Redlegs staggering on multiple occasions. Lifetime Cincinnati is just 42-63 in the Mile High City.

Since 2012 the Reds have captured the season series from the Rockies only twice in eight attempts. How long has it been since the Redlegs won a series in Colorado? Try 2016 when Cincinnati took three of four from the Rockies as Dan Straily, John Lamb, and Alfredo Simon earned victories. In other words, it’s been a while.