The Colorado Rockies enter their July 2, 2025 home game against the Houston Astros looking to salvage pride in what has become another frustrating and largely forgettable season at the bottom of the National League standings. With a dismal 19–65 record and just two wins in their last ten games, the Rockies have struggled to find consistency in any phase of the game, whether it be starting pitching, offense, bullpen stability, or defensive execution. Expected starter Austin Gomber has labored through a rough season, carrying a 1–8 record and a 5.19 ERA into this contest, plagued by command issues and a tendency to allow big innings early in games, especially when his breaking ball isn’t landing for strikes. The high altitude and hitter-friendly conditions of Coors Field have historically worked against pitchers, and for someone like Gomber who relies on location rather than overpowering stuff, every inning becomes a chess match with narrow margins for error. Behind him, the Rockies’ bullpen has done little to inspire confidence, frequently surrendering inherited runners and struggling to lock down late innings in close games. Offensively, there have been bright spots, particularly from outfielders Brenton Doyle and Hunter Goodman, who’ve added some speed and energy to the lineup, but the team as a whole lacks the depth, power, and plate discipline to string together multi-run innings with regularity.

The absence of a true leadoff catalyst or middle-of-the-order threat has left the Rockies overly dependent on situational hitting, which has failed them in high-leverage moments all season. Defensively, Colorado has compounded its pitching problems with a number of costly errors and misplays, particularly in the infield, where routine grounders have too often turned into extra outs and extra runs. Manager Bud Black has remained optimistic publicly, but internally, the challenges of keeping morale high and developing young talent amid so much losing have clearly taken a toll. The Rockies are just 2–8 against the spread in their last ten games, mirroring their outright performance and showing how difficult it’s been for them to stay competitive, even at home. While Coors Field can serve as an equalizer, especially for struggling bats, the Rockies have not been able to consistently use it to their advantage, often falling behind early and failing to recover. Facing a disciplined and playoff-tested Astros team, Colorado will need near-perfect execution, a quality start from Gomber, and breakout performances from multiple underperforming hitters to have a real chance at winning. Any chance of an upset hinges on minimizing damage in the early innings, finding timely extra-base hits, and avoiding the defensive miscues that have haunted them throughout the season. The crowd at Coors will show up with hope, but the Rockies must deliver something different than what they’ve shown all year—a complete, focused effort for nine innings against one of baseball’s most resilient and well-constructed teams.