The Colorado Rockies enter Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros as heavy underdogs, owning a league-worst 19–65 record and showing little evidence of improvement as the season approaches the All-Star break. Their issues have been systemic all year—starting with a patchwork pitching staff that’s failed to keep games close and a lineup that hasn’t been able to consistently capitalize on Coors Field’s offensive-friendly conditions. Set to start is right-hander Chase Dollander, who carries a 2–8 record and a 6.06 ERA into the game, emblematic of the broader struggles facing the Rockies’ rotation. Dollander has been particularly vulnerable in the early innings and has had trouble locating pitches, resulting in a high walk rate and numerous multi-run innings against quality lineups. That could be disastrous against a Houston squad that excels at punishing mistakes and working deep counts, a troubling prospect given Colorado’s recent inability to cover the run line in seven of their last ten home games. Offensively, the Rockies have been underwhelming, averaging just over three runs per game and ranking near the bottom of MLB in key categories like OPS and team batting average. Players like Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman have had brief moments of production, but overall, the lineup lacks the firepower needed to trade punches with a team like Houston.

Veteran leaders such as Kris Bryant have either struggled with injuries or failed to deliver consistent output, and the team has leaned more heavily on inexperienced players without much success. Defensively, Colorado has been sloppy, committing costly errors that often turn manageable innings into rallies for the opposition. Their bullpen hasn’t provided much relief either, lacking reliable options in late innings, which has led to multiple blown leads and extended losing streaks. Even at Coors Field—traditionally a place where their offense could help mask pitching issues—the Rockies have gone just 8–32, unable to take advantage of the altitude or crowd support. Against the Astros, they’ll need a near-perfect effort: early scoring, a quality start from Dollander, and flawless defense to even remain competitive into the later innings. Manager Bud Black continues to preach patience and development, but the reality is this team has yet to demonstrate it can execute consistently for nine innings against any top-tier opponent, let alone a playoff-caliber team like Houston. The Rockies’ 3–15 interleague record further underscores their vulnerability against AL opponents, and unless something changes drastically in execution or energy, this game could follow a familiar script of early promise giving way to mid-game collapse. For Colorado, the goal may simply be to show signs of progress—clean innings from Dollander, disciplined at-bats, and a reduced number of defensive miscues—while trying to avoid being overwhelmed by a clearly superior opponent. Their fanbase is hungry for something to cheer about in a lost season, and while a win may be unlikely, a competitive showing would at least offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise grim 2025 campaign.