Opposite dugout: Rockies hope potent offense carries them to postseason

Manager: Bud Black (1st season)

Record: 58-45

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: 2B DJ LeMahieu (.312), 3B Nolan Arenado (.313 with 23 HR, 89 RBIs), 1B Mark Reynolds (22 HR, 70 RBIs), CF Charlie Blackmon (.326/.379/.609), LHP Kyle Freeland (10-7, 3.64 ERA), RHP Greg Holland (31 saves, 1.72 ERA)

Season series vs. Nationals: 1-3

Pitching probables:

July 28: RHP German Márquez vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN
July 29: LHP Kyle Freeland vs. RHP Erick Fedde, 7:05 p.m., MASN
July 30: RHP Jon Gray vs. RHP Edwin Jackson, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the Rockies:

The Rockies were outscored 46-29 in dropping three of four to the Nationals in late April at Coors Field. While the summertime conditions at Nationals Park aren't quite the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains, the ball tends to fly out of the D.C. stadium in warm, humid conditions. So there could be a lot of runs scored in the rematch between two teams with postseason aspirations. Given that the Dodgers are running away with the National League West, the Rockies will need to win one of the two NL wild cards, and both could come from the West. Regardless, it's been a nice turnaround for the Rockies under first-year skipper Bud Black, who has a potent offense and a stellar closer at his disposal. But after winning six of seven games, the Rockies have lost three straight games, a sweep by the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

There's an elegant simplicity to the Rockies' offensive strategy. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon and second baseman DJ LeMahieu get on, then the big bats of third baseman Nolan Arenado and first baseman Mark Reynolds knock them in. Blackmon is slashing at a .326/.379/.609 clip (with a team-high 24 homers out of the leadoff spot) and LeMahieu is batting .312, making them the perfect table-setters for Arenado (23 homers, 89 RBIs) and Reynolds (22 homers, 70 RBIs). They've helped to compensate for the time missed by ex-Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, who has significant time with a broken hand and a calf injury. When he's played, Desmond has been productive, slashing .285/.328/.388, but that's not as much as the Rockies were expecting when they doled out a five-year, $70 million contract in December. But it's likely Desmond, one of the most popular ex-Nats, will be welcomed warmly to his former home.

Right-hander German Márquez starts the series opener for the Rockies and hopes to win his third consecutive start. He gave up eight runs on nine hits in four innings in his season debut against the Nats on April 25, but has emerged as one of Colorado's most consistent starters. But he's allowed a home run in four starts, which could be a red flag. Rookie lefty Kyle Freeland, Saturday's starter, will have the experience edge over righty Erick Fedde, who is making his major league debut. Two starts ago, he came within two outs of a no-hitter, working 8 1/3 innings of no-hit ball against the White Sox in a 10-0 victory. In the past 17 1/3 innings he's pitched, Freeland has yielded two runs on seven hits, so he's on a roll. He's never faced the Nationals. Righty Jon Gray's season was interrupted by a stress fracture in his left foot, limiting him to just eight starts. He's won three of four decisions heading into Sunday's series finale. He's yet to go beyond six innings, however. He's made one career start against the Nationals, surrendering four runs over four innings in a no-decision.

Closer Greg Holland, who was linked to the Nationals all offseason until signing a deal with the Rockies, will miss the at least first game of the weekend series following the birth of a child in Denver. He's saved 31 games in 32 tries, posting a 1.06 WHIP and 1.72 ERA. The Rockies acquired righty Pat Neshek, a target of the Nats, from the Phillies on Wednesday, and he's expected to join his new team in D.C.