Rockies @ Nationals

Who will WIN this matchup?

Colorado Rockies (47-55)

@ Washington Nationals (55-46)

Starting Pitchers:

Hoffman (COL): 1-3; 6.75 ERA

Scherzer (WSH) 9-5; 2.30 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Colorado Rockies: 1-9

Washington Nationals: 6-4

Current odds:

Colorado Rockies: (+250)

Washington Nationals: (-300)

• The Washington Nationals welcomes the return of three-time Cy Young Award recipient Max Scherzer on Thursday afternoon when they bid for a four-game series sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies. Scherzer posted a sizzling 7-0 mark with an 0.84 ERA and 94 strikeouts during a nine-game stretch before being sidelined with an inflamed bursa sac in his back/shoulder. Washington continued its remarkable run since late May by benefiting from modest offense and strong pitching performances to post 3-2 and 2-0 victories in a doubleheader sweep over reeling Colorado on Wednesday. Anthony Rendon belted a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning of the first game and enters Thursday’s tilt having hit safely in 13 of his last 14 outings.

• While Washington has moved within four games of National League East-leading Atlanta, the reeling Rockies have lost nine of 10 overall and 16 of 19 to plummet into the cellar of the NL West. Nolan Arenado is just 2-for-11 heading into the series finale and now faces Scherzer, against whom he is 1-for-7 with four strikeouts in his career.

• Hoffman was summoned from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday to make his first start for Colorado since he issued four walks in 2 2/3 innings of a no-decision against Arizona on June 20. The 26-year-old kept the ball in the park versus the Diamondbacks after surrendering seven homers in his previous five trips to the mound. Hoffman was able to keep the ball in the park against Washington on April 23, although he fell to 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in two career starts versus the club after allowing four runs on six hits in five innings of a 6-3 setback.

• Scherzer exited his bullpen session without issue on Monday, prompting manager Dave Martinez to tell reporters that his ace is good to go for the series finale. The 34-year-old recorded his fifth straight double-digit strikeout performance and sixth in seven outings after fanning 11 on July 6 while scattering four hits over seven innings in a 6-0 romp versus Kansas City. Former National Daniel Murphy is 4-for-21 with five strikeouts against Scherzer, who sports a 2-4 mark with a 4.47 ERA in nine career starts versus Colorado.

• Washington RF Adam Eaton has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 contests.

• Colorado RF Charlie Blackmon is 9-for-22 with four runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.

• The Rockies’ 31 road losses are the second-most in the National League behind the New York Mets.