Colorado Rockies vs Washington Nationals Series Preview: Top offenses in the NL square off

The Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies have combined to score 1,112 runs this season, setting the stage for a high-scoring series in D.C.

By Matt Weyrich@ByMattWeyrich Jul 28, 2017, 4:20pm EDT

Rockies (58-45) vs. Nationals (61-39) Series Info:

Game 1: Friday, July 28 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7 The Fan)

Game 2: Saturday, July 29 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7)

Game 4: Sunday, July 30 at 1:35 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7)

Pitching Matchups:

Friday: German Marquez (8-4, 4.20 ERA) vs. Tanner Roark (3-4, 3.09)

Saturday: Kyle Freeland (8-6, 4.83) vs. Erick Fedde (MLB Debut)

Sunday: Jon Gray (3-1, 5.84) vs. Edwin Jackson (1-1, 4.76)

What to watch for:

Erick Fedde makes highly anticipated debut

Top pitching prospect Erick Fedde will be called up from AAA-Syracuse to start in place of Stephen Strasburg, who was placed on the DL with a right elbow nerve impingement.

Fedde is 1-1 with a 5.57 ERA in 10 appearances (4 starts) at AAA this season but posted a 3.04 ERA in 17 games at AA before being promoted in June.

The only pitching prospect on the top 15 of the Nats’s MLB.com prospect ranking that wasn’t drafted within the last year, Fedde is highly regarded by the Nats organization and seen as a key piece of their future rotation.

The battle for the title of best third baseman in baseball rages on

Entering the season, Nolan Arenado was a common pick for the title of the best third baseman in baseball along with Kris Bryant, Josh Donaldson and Manny Machado.

With 28 teams having already passed the century mark, the field has now become more crowded most notably because of the MVP-caliber play of Anthony Rendon and Justin Turner.

The matchup between Mike Trout and Bryce Harper had much more hype, but this battle of third basemen is one you’re going to want to see.

Rockies strengthen bullpen with addition of Pat Neshek

Popular Nats trade target Pat Neshek was acquired by the Rockies on Wednesday, adding much needed relief help to a bullpen that owns a 4.56 ERA on the season.

Neshek was named to the NL All-Star Team this year, putting together a 1.12 ERA in 43 appearances with Philadelphia before being traded.

With Greg Holland on paternity leave, Colorado will be relying on guys like Neshek and Jake McGee if any save situations arise.

Who to watch out for: Gerardo Parra

MLB: San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies

After a disastrous first season in Colorado, Gerardo Parra has been a dominant hitter when healthy in 2017.

He’s hitting .359 on the year, but has especially turned it on in July (.480/.464/.720 in 50 at-bats this month).

Parra enters the game on an eight-game hitting streak and will be a force to be reckoned with if he manages to stay on the field.

In their words…

Bryan Kilpatrick, Purple Row

“The Rockies have spent the last month fading after a 47-26 start, but the good news is they're still four games ahead of the next closest team in the Wild Card standings and for the first time in years, the front office is acquiring helpful pieces at the trade deadline. The question going forward is whether Colorado's pitching staff full of first- and second-year players can hold up. A trip to Washington to face an overpowering Nationals lineup will certainly provide a tough test — one the Rockies might not have the arms to pass. Fortunately, the Rockies are still in good shape overall, even with what will likely be a series loss in D.C.”