Colorado Rockies vs. Washington Nationals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/26/2022

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Venue: Nationals Park, Washington, DC

Where to watch: MASN, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain 

DraftKings: Nationals -115, Rockies -105

BetMGM: Even

Caesars: Nationals -115, Rockies -105

Rockies: 20-23

Nationals: 15-30

Maybe it's best if the Colorado Rockies just don't play baseball anymore. Or just not playing on weekends anymore to enhance the chance of never having to be embarrassed ever again. If they want to go that route, please feel free to do so because anything sounds better than needing to carry yourself on a bad team.

Because the Rockies are not good and we're over here trying to hype them up as supposedly good. I think that's ultimately my fault for thinking this group was any good to be better than what they've been this year. But after the 10-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, I've given up. Yes, even when Kris Bryant eventually returns and is a .325 hitter with 40 homers, the Rockies will still be sitting with no chance at catching up in the standings.

This team is the most frustrating I believe in the entire league. For one thing, you can't do much in the last two games, the under bettors are primed with another under in the finale. C.J. Cron, who had not registered a hit in his last 12 at-bats, goes 2-for-5 with his 12th home run and is back to looking like a destroyer of worlds. Even the starting pitcher goes five innings, gives up three hits and just two runs while striking out seven.

Then the bullpen just completely dies, giving up seven runs in the sixth and seventh combined, and despite reeling in 13 hits as a team, the Rockies lost a game while walking five and allowing just nine hits. I feel bad for ever thinking this team could be something worth watching. We were all fooled. They owe Ryan Feltner a steak dinner for these shenanigans.

Meanwhile, we're talking about a winning organization in the Washington Nationals for defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Now, sure, it was only a 1-0 game. I'm not out here trying to defend these folks for taking the Dodgers to the woodshed, but at the very least, with both teams securing six hits, one had to score a run, and it was Washington.

And the only run? An RBI single from Cesar Hernandez in the bottom of the sixth inning. That was all Erick Fedde needed to go six innings and strike out six, one of the best starts in the former UNLV pitcher's career. Fedde has had a rocky road to get to the major leagues, and now he's sitting with a 3-3 record in what might have been the defining moment of his MLB career so far.

“I’ve said it before: If we get some starting pitching -- deep to me is somewhere in that sixth inning or so -- and we get the lead, our bullpen could hold people down,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Today was an example of that with a really good team and a really good lineup.”

Yes, that still means the Nationals are a bad team. They're still 15-30 with no real sign of getting any better unless they go on a World Series-like run. That's going to take a bit. Juan Soto is still likely on the way out, Nelson Cruz can't be your best batter after going 2-for-3, and Josh Bell is no longer hitting .300 anymore.

If anything, you're just grasping for straws for the Nationals at this point. At some point, you've got to just pray and hit.

By law of not believing in the Rockies anymore, I am automatically buying in with the Nationals, even if that means to withstand a bad start from Patrick Corbin. Ultimately, with the Rockies traveling and coming off the loss, I don't like how that's going to fare for them.

Rockies are 6-11 as a road underdog this season.

Rockies are 5-8 against NL East teams this season.

Nationals are 5-17 at home this season.

Nationals are 40-68 the past three seasons when the line is between +125 and -125.

Rockies:
Connor Joe (R) LF
Yonathan Daza (R) CF
Charlie Blackmon (L) DH
C.J. Cron (R) 1B
Ryan McMahon (L) 3B
Randal Grichuk (R) RF
Jose Iglesias (R) SS
Garrett Hampson (R) 2B
Brian Serven (R) C
SP - German Marquez

Nationals:
Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
Lane Thomas (R) LF
Juan Soto (L) RF
Nelson Cruz (R) DH
Josh Bell (S) 1B
Maikel Franco (R) 3B
Riley Adams (R) C
Victor Robles (R) CF
Alcides Escobar (R) SS
SP - Patrick Corbin

Batting average: C.J. Cron -- .314

Hits: C.J. Cron -- 53

Home runs: C.J. Cron -- 12

RBI: C.J. Cron -- 33

Wins: Two tied -- 3

Saves: Daniel Bard -- 10

ERA: Chad Kuhl -- 3.67

Batting average: Josh Bell -- .296

Hits: Josh Bell -- 47

Home runs: Juan Soto -- 8

RBI: Two tied -- 23

Wins: Josiah Gray -- 4

Saves: Tanner Rainey -- 4

ERA: Erick Fedde -- 3.55