Rapids Try To Get Chivas' Goat

Maybe some roasted goat at the tailgate?

The Under-A-Chivas are in town tomorrow coming off a beat down at the hands of the LA Galaxy.  The Rapids really need to pick up home points to have any playoff chance at all, so this is almost a must-win game.  Game time tomorrow is 7pm, so the tailgate starts at 5.  Those of you unable to make it can find the game on Altitude.

Injury Report:
OUT: MF Pablo Mastroeni (headache symptoms); DF Anthony Wallace (L Achilles tear)
QUESTIONABLE: FW Conor Casey (R hamstring tightness); FW Edu (R foot contusion); MF Kamani Hill (L quad strain); DF Tyrone Marshall (R calf tightness)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: MF Jaime Castrillon
SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT 2 YELLOWS: MF Jaime Castrillon; DF Tyrone Marshall; MF Drew Moor; MF Martin Rivero; DF Tyson Wahl

The injury report got worse this week as Hill was added and Marshall was downgraded.  The plus side is Casey looks like he'll be available, though its probably going to be a game time decision.  Chivas is only down 3 players so they'll be in better shape.  My guess at the starting XI:

Casey - Cummings

Larentowicz - Rivero - Nane - Mullan

Zapata - Moor - Wynne - Freeman

Pickens

If Casey;s not healthy we'll probably see Cascio.  If Casey is healthy we might see Cascio in place of Cummings, given some of the rumors out of the FO this week.  I doubt we'd see Cummings benched if Casey's not available.

Key To Look For: Defense, defense, defense.  Chivas couldn't slow LA down so we should be able to score but we can't let Chivas stay in the game by giving them easy goals off of defensive blunders.

Prediction: 2-1 win.  Goals by Larentowicz and Casey.  This, obviously, assumes Casey is playing.  Without him its going to be significantly more difficult to get a win.  I expect that the Rapids can score enough with Casey in the lineup to overcome any defensive lapses.  Without him a draw may be more likely.