ASTROS-ROCKIES PREVIEW
Astros eye crucial wins in Rockies showdown to close gap on .500
Jun 25, 2024, 10:47 am
ASTROS-ROCKIES PREVIEW
Colorado Rockies (27-51, fifth in the NL West) vs. Houston Astros (38-40, second in the AL West)
Houston; Tuesday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Austin Gomber (1-4, 4.36 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 52 strikeouts); Astros: Hunter Brown (4-5, 4.72 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 82 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -263, Rockies +215; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros take on the Colorado Rockies after Alex Bregman had four hits against the Orioles on Sunday.
Houston is 22-19 at home and 38-40 overall. The Astros have the fourth-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .423.
Colorado is 27-51 overall and 11-27 on the road. The Rockies have the eighth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .397.
The matchup Tuesday is the third meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Altuve has a .299 batting average to lead the Astros, and has 16 doubles and 12 home runs. Bregman is 16-for-42 with two RBI over the past 10 games.
Ryan McMahon ranks second on the Rockies with 31 extra base hits (17 doubles and 14 home runs). Hunter Goodman is 9-for-37 with a double, five home runs and 10 RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 7-3, .284 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs
Rockies: 3-7, .277 batting average, 6.60 ERA, outscored by 10 runs
INJURIES: Astros: Jake Bloss: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Victor Caratini: 10-Day IL (hip), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Tucker: 10-Day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Rockies: Charlie Blackmon: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Adael Amador: 10-Day IL (oblique), Josh Rogers: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Elias Diaz: 10-Day IL (calf), Kris Bryant: 10-Day IL (rib), Jordan Beck: 10-Day IL (wrist), Lucas Gilbreath: 60-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Bard: 60-Day IL (knee), German Marquez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Antonio Senzatela: 60-Day IL (elbow)
The Houston Astros (28-25) will open a two-game series against the Oakland Athletics (23-31) on Tuesday night, as both teams look to build momentum in very different contexts. The Astros are fighting to keep pace in the AL West, while the Athletics are trying to stop the bleeding after a 1-9 stretch.
Pitching matchup
Tuesday’s matchup features Hunter Brown (6-3, 2.04 ERA), who has become a stabilizing force in a rotation that’s been hit hard by injuries. Brown boasts a sparkling 0.91 WHIP and 71 strikeouts over 66.2 innings, ranking among the league’s most efficient starters in May.
Oakland counters with JP Sears (4-4, 4.00 ERA), who’s been steady but unspectacular this season. Sears owns a solid 1.15 WHIP and will look to keep the ball in the park against a Houston lineup that’s showing signs of waking up.
Astros heating up
Houston enters the series 6-4 in its last 10 games and 18-10 at home. The offense has quietly started to produce again, hitting .275 over that 10-game stretch. Jose Altuve remains a key contributor, going 11-for-38 with a pair of home runs. Isaac Paredes continues to anchor the middle of the lineup with 11 homers, a .276 average, and the versatility to move around the infield.
Pitching has also steadied, with the Astros posting a 3.51 team ERA during their recent run. With Brown on the mound, Houston will look to keep pressure on AL West rivals while making the most of this two-game home opportunity.
A’s slumping but still dangerous
Oakland enters Tuesday’s contest with the worst record in the AL West and little momentum. The A’s have lost nine of their last 10 and have been outscored by 26 runs during that stretch. The team’s 5.79 ERA over that period has made it hard to stay in games, even as the offense ranks sixth in MLB with a .419 slugging percentage.
Brent Rooker leads the power surge with 12 homers and a .468 slugging mark. Miguel Andújar has been one of the few bright spots lately, going 15-for-43 with three doubles and a home run over the past 10 games.
First meeting of the season
This marks the first meeting between the Astros and Athletics in 2025. Houston has had the upper hand in the rivalry in recent years and will look to keep that trend going. Oddsmakers agree: the Astros are -207 favorites on the BetMGM moneyline, with the over/under set at 7.5 runs.
With Houston surging behind elite starting pitching and Oakland trying to find stability, Tuesday’s matchup offers a sharp contrast in direction—and a clear opportunity for the Astros to keep stacking wins at home.
Here's an early look at tonight's lineup!
.@hellokitty Night!
⚾️: 7:10pm
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#BuiltForThis x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/8BPEDP9L14
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 27, 2025
Altuve is hitting third in the DH spot, with Chas McCormick hitting eighth and getting the start in left field. Meyers is hitting fifth and Mauricio Dubon is starting at second base and hitting ninth.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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