Short turnaround as Rapids head for Portland

Colorado is in Portland for a midweek game tomorrow night.  Portland is flying high with a shot at going to the top of the table with the right results tomorrow.  We all know the Rapids are looking towards 2018 already.  This would appear to be a mismatched battle but that's why they play the games.  Its not even the most mismatched battle I'll watch tomorrow as at 12:45 tomorrow on ESPN3 the East Lancashire Derby is renewed as Blackburn hosts Burnley in the League Cup.  Just because Burnley thinks they're all that now that they're in the EPL doesn't mean they aren't going down tomorrow to a League One side.  Kickoff for the Rapids game is at 8:30 tomorrow night with the game on Altitude.

The Rapids are still missing MacMath and Burling is questionable but everyone else should be available, though Aigner's fitness status is up in the air.  Portland has 1 player suspended, 2 out to injury, and 3 more questionable.

I expect much the same in the lineup, with some players like Gashi rotated out for rest before the Rocky Mountain Cup match on Saturday.  Honestly given where we are this season I'd be happy to see a lot of young players get some time tomorrow and rest the big guns for the one important match we have left (if we lose on Saturday FSL wins the Cup, a draw means we'd need to win the final home game by 2, a win means we'd need to win by 1).  its time to see what the kids can do and this game has loss written all over it anyway.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Badji.  Portland has a top 5 offense and a bottom 5 defense.  The short rest will keep this game closer than it probably should be but Portland will build up a 2 goal lead before the Rapids get one late to avoid a shutout.