Colorado Rockies game no. 157 thread: Josiah Gray vs Germán Márquez

The Rockies open their last home series of 2021 against Juan Soto and the Nationals

Coming off back-to-back series losses at the hands of the playoff-bound Giants and Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies will start their final home series of the year tonight against the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are far removed from their 2019 World Champion team, most recently offloading Trea Turner and Max Scherzer at this year’s trade deadline following their surprisingly disappointing 2020 with a similar 2021. An unsurprising bright spot has been the continued ascendance of Juan Soto to superstardom, a bat the Rockies will look to contain as they try to send the Coors faithful home happy one more time.

Pitching (and hitting) for the Rockies to start the series will be Germán Márquez (12-10, 4.32 ERA). The Opening Day starter for the Rockies and their 2021 All Star Game representative, Márquez has solidified himself as the ace of the staff this year. He’s looking to find some consistency in the second half — although the Rockies have won each of his last four starts (including one against the Nats), he’s made it out of the fifth inning in only one.

Opposing the Rockies will be Josiah Gray (1-2, 5.92 ERA). Gray made his Major League debut this year with the Dodgers, then came over to the Nationals in the aforementioned Trea Turner/Max Scherzer blockbuster. He pitched against Márquez and the Rockies earlier in September, earning a no decision after allowing five earned runs and leaving the game in the sixth inning. His main pitch is a four-seam fastball, and Gray uses a curveball and slider to keep hitters off balance with an occasional changeup thrown in.

First Pitch: 6:40 PM MDT

TV: AT&T Sports Net Rocky Mountain; MLB.tv

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Lineups: