Monday’s matchup between the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park features two struggling teams hoping to find footing in the thick of June. The Rockies, with the worst record in Major League Baseball at 14–57, are enduring one of the most challenging seasons in franchise history, plagued by inconsistency on the mound, sporadic offense, and a defense that has cost them countless opportunities to stay competitive. On the flip side, the Nationals, while also under .500 at 30–41, have shown signs of life and are building around a young core that offers promise for the future, especially with the anticipated debut of top prospect Brady House, who’s expected to inject new energy into the lineup. Washington will hand the ball to Jake Irvin (5–3, 4.21 ERA), a right-hander who has quietly become one of the more dependable arms in the Nationals’ rotation, showing poise in limiting damage and managing his pitch count to work deep into games. Irvin will look to neutralize a Rockies offense that averages just 4.2 runs per game and struggles to maintain pressure on opposing pitchers, especially on the road, where they’ve won only seven games all season. Colorado counters with left-hander Carson Palmquist, who has yet to record a win (0–4, 7.77 ERA) and has had difficulty establishing any rhythm against Major League hitters, often falling behind in counts and leaving pitches over the plate.

That could spell trouble against a Nationals lineup anchored by slugger James Wood, who leads the club with 17 home runs and is batting .280, and now gets reinforcements with House’s promotion. Washington has struggled to produce runs in June, tallying just 31 in 13 games—dead last in MLB—but the presence of Wood, CJ Abrams, and the young reinforcements could help change that narrative. Defensively, the Nationals have been mediocre, posting a team ERA of 5.07 and allowing too many base runners, but against a Rockies team with a collective ERA of 5.77 and one of the worst bullpens in baseball, they may not need a shutout to stay ahead. The Rockies’ main offensive threat is Hunter Goodman, who’s hitting .284 with 11 home runs, but he’s been a lone bright spot in an otherwise ineffective offense that struggles to convert opportunities into runs. In terms of betting trends, neither team has been strong against the spread, with the Rockies covering in just 3 of their last 10 and the Nationals faring only slightly better. Interestingly, the total has gone UNDER in four of the last six meetings between these teams, pointing to a trend of lower-scoring contests, though the poor pitching matchups on both sides could push this game in the opposite direction. For Washington, this game represents an opportunity to snap their home skid and start reshaping their season narrative with young talent stepping into the spotlight. For Colorado, it’s another uphill battle against a team with momentum on its side and a starting pitcher who’s shown he can keep games in control. While both clubs are far from postseason contention, Monday’s game carries weight in setting tone, especially for the Nationals, who hope that House’s debut is the beginning of a more competitive stretch in the second half.