Opposite dugout: Though out of contention, Rockies feature dangerous lineup

Manager: Walt Weiss (4th season)

Record: 47-51

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: 2B DJ LeMahieu (.329/.396/.485), LF Carlos Gonzalez (.318 with 20 HR, 60 RBIs), CF Charlie Blackmon (.300/.361/.466), 3B Nolan Arenado (25 HR, 76 RBIs), SS Trevor Story (27 HR, 69 RBIs), RHP Jon Gray (6-4, 4.12 ERA), LHP Jake McGee (15 saves)

Season series vs. Orioles: 1st meeting (1-2 in 2013)

Pitching probables:

July 25: LHP Jorge De La Rosa vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 7:05 p.m., MASN
July 26: RHP Chad Bettis vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 7:05 p.m, MASN2
July 27: RHP Jon Gray vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 7:05 p.m., MASN

Inside the Rockies:

Camden Yards is the first stop on a two-city, seven-game road trip for the Rockies, who are 11 off the pace in the National League West. Because they're not in the postseason picture, there's a lot of speculation about the Rockies heading into the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline. So there's no guarantee that the team that starts the series on Monday in Baltimore will be the same one that jets off to Citi Field on Wednesday evening. There are rumors swirling around outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, along with lefty Jorge De La Rosa and closer Jake McGee. Manager Walt Weiss appears safe - for now; winning four in a row and seven of 10 games helps job security.

While playing half their games in Coors Field certainly inflates some of Colorado's offensive statistics, some of their firepower at the plate is indisputable. Gonzalez is having another fine season, slashing .318/.371/.549 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs, but has tailed off in July, when he's hitting only .269. Blackmon is getting on base ahead of him with regularity, as his .300/.361/.466 slash line suggests. Third baseman Nolan Arenado is an underrated stick who is a defensive whiz - he's added 25 homers and 76 RBIs. Shortstop Trevor Story has cooled off a little since starting his rookie season with 10 April homers, but still has 27 longballs (four of them coming in the last three games), enough to make last summer's trade of longtime franchise cornerstone Troy Tulowitzki a little easier to stomach. There are dangerous hitters up and down the Rockies lineup, which is what you'd expect from a team that ranks second in the majors in runs (506) and total baes (1,537), and third in average (.270), hits (911), on-base percentage (.335) and slugging percentage (.456).

De La Rosa starts Monday's series opener, and his 6.07 ERA and 1.67 WHIP are downright ugly. He actually pitched better in batter-friendly Coors Field (5.65 ERA) than on the road (6.50 ERA). De La Rosa has lost three of four decisions after reeling off four straight wins in June, and he's gone at least six innings in five of his last six starts. He's 88 with a 5.05 ERA in 26 interleague games (21 starts) and 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in one lifetime start versus the Orioles in May 2007. Righty Chad Bettis, Tuesday's scheduled starter, has won two decisions in a row, but the Rockies have prevailed in seven of his last eight starts. He's worked at least six innings in six of his past seven starts. In one career start against the O's, he's 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. Right-hander Jon Gray makes his first career start versus the Orioles on Wednesday in the series finale, and he's worked at least six innings in five straight starts, and 10 of 11. But he's only won once in four July starts, despite a 2.05 ERA. In his last start on July 22 versus Atlanta, he yielded a run on six hits only seven innings with a walk and eight strikeouts. Gray allowed six homers in 31 June innings, but has been tagged with only one longball in 26 1/3 innings this month.

If the Rockies can get a lead to the ninth inning, the Orioles will see a familiar face in McGee, who used to pitch for the Rays and owns a career 3.65 ERA against the Birds, including a 0.75 mark at Camden Yards. This year, he's saved 15 of 19 games, though he missed time with a sprained MCL in his left knee and his 5.59 ERA and 1.45 WHIP aren't the stuff of elite ninth-inning arms. Southpaw Boone Logan (2.60 ERA) has been providing some effective setup work, making a team-high 40 appearances.