Rockies, Astros Meet for Series Finale in Houston

HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros will look to salvage a series split when they conclude a four-game set Thursday night at Daikin Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CDT under clear skies with a game-time temperature of 77 degrees.

Both clubs enter the finale struggling early in the season. The Rockies (6-11) have lost four of their last five, while the Astros (7-11) have dropped seven of their last nine. Houston took the most recent meeting 7-6 on Tuesday, but Colorado won two of three when the teams played in Denver last week.

A key figure for the Rockies will be reliever Antonio Senzatela, who has been a bright spot in a shaky pitching staff. In his last six appearances, Senzatela has not allowed an earned run over 13.1 innings, striking out 15. He pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in relief against these Astros on Tuesday and earned a win against them on April 7.

Houston will rely on the bat of first baseman Christian Walker, who broke out of a brief slump with a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance that included a home run in Tuesday’s victory. Prior to that, he was 0 for his last 11. Walker has homered in two of his last three games against Colorado pitching.

The series has been tightly contested, with three of the five meetings this season decided by two runs or fewer. Interstat’s game simulator projects another close one, favoring Colorado 3-2. However, oddsmakers have installed Houston as a 1.5-run favorite. The over/under is set at 8.5 runs.

Following the game, the Rockies return home to open a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The Astros will remain in Houston to begin a three-game weekend set with the St. Louis Cardinals.