The Colorado Rockies had a nice weekend to kick off the second half of the 2024 season. Not only did they manage to win two of three against the San Francisco Giants, a team that has had their number since 2021, but they were able to celebrate Todd Helton being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Timely hitting, some decent pitching and some defensive highlights helped the Rockies start off on a high note. While their problems as an organization still persist, the rest of the season will be about learning and growth for the team as they begin to rebuild with their youth movement. The fourth-toughest schedule in baseball will also expedite that growth as the Boston Red Sox come into town.

The Red Sox (53-45) have quietly been one of the better teams in baseball in 2024. They sit just 6 1/2 games back in the division and just one game back for a Wild Card spot. Their offense has been decent, led by players like Jarren Duran who won the All-Star MVP honors and veterans like Rafael Devers and Tyler O’Neil who provide plenty of thump in the lineup. Perhaps more surprising has been a solid pitching staff for the Red Sox. Led by Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck, the Red Sox pitching staff hasn’t been invincible, but they have been solid enough to keep them in ball games and allow the offense to do their job.

Pitching probables

7/22: Tanner Houck  (8-6, 2.54 ERA) vs. Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA)

Houck was named an All-Star after a spectacular first half in which he threw 117 innings over 19 starts, posting a 2.54 ERA with 112 strikeouts. He has easily been an ace for the Red Sox and makes his first start of the second half. His last start came against the Oakland A’s where he threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six. It will be his first start against the Rockies and at Coors Field.

Struggles in June have led Austin Gomber to be an average pitcher over the last eight starts While he has shown some glimpses of excellence, he has also struggled with run prevention. He’s allowed at least four runs in all but two starts over the last month. He is another trade candidate that the team hopes can keep showing an ability to work deeper into games effectively.

7/23: TBD vs Noah Davis (0-0, 9.00 ERA)

Germán Márquez was scheduled to make his second start of the year but was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, a troubling sign after he just returned from Tommy John surgery. In his place the Rockies called up Noah Davis who will presumedly start in game two. Davis has pitched just three innings at the big league level this season, spending the majority of the year in Triple-A. In Albuquerque, he has a 5.86 ERA in 13 games over 58 1/3 innings.

7/24: Nick Pivetta (4-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. Cal Quantrill (6-7, 4.15 ERA)

July has been a good month for Nick Pivetta as he’s made three starts, allowing four runs on nine hits in 19 2/3 innings. He has been a strikeout machine on the mound, with 28 punchouts against just five walks this month. He has worked at least six innings in each start this month, pitching into the seventh inning twice.

Cal Quantrill has continued to be a quality start machine this season and proved it once against by going six innings allowing just three runs on five hits in his last outing against the Giants at home. He struck out five batters, a high this month while issuing just two walks. He’s seen his ERA rise above four this month and faces a tough customer in the Red Sox, but should he utilize his splitter and refined command of the fastball, he’ll likely to snag another quality start.

Players to watch

Ceddanne Rafaela is 12-for-36 with two doubles, a triple and a home run over the last 10 games for the Red Sox. Jarren Duran has 30 doubles, 10 triples and 12 home runs this season.

After enduring an 0-for-28 stretch to begin the month, Ezequiel Tovar is 15-for-34 with four doubles and four home runs over the last eight games.

Injuries

Rockies: Nolan Jones: 10-Day IL (back), Kris Bryant: 10-Day IL (rib), Jordan Beck: 10-Day IL (wrist), Lucas Gilbreath: 60-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Bard: 60-Day IL (knee), Antonio Senzatela: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Red Sox: Rob Refsnyder: day-to-day (shoulder), Justin Slaten: 15-Day IL (elbow), Chris Martin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (rib), Vaughn Grissom: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Garrett Whitlock: 60-Day IL (oblique), Trevor Story: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Bryan Mata: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Liam Hendriks: 60-Day IL (elbow), Chris Murphy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lucas Giolito: 60-Day IL (elbow)