Big Week Starts In Houston

The Rapids start another 3 games in a week stretch tomorrow with another trip to Texas, this time Houston, to take on the Dynamo.  That will be followed on Tuesday night with a trip out to the coast to meet the Galaxy, and then finish with the Rocky Mountain Cup showdown back home on Saturday.  Its a tough stretch where each game gets bigger and bigger as you go.  For tomorrow night kickoff is at 6:30pm MT and no, the TV situation hasn't changed.

Injury Report:

OUT: M Younes Namli

Disciplinary Report:

ONE CAUTION FROM SUSPENSION: M Jack Price

TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: F Diego Rubio

This is where I would usually put in my best guess at a starting XI but honestly, I have no idea.  You've got a team starting 3 games with a hot and humid game on the road.  We will, presumably, get Acosta back for the first time since he left for the gold Cup.  Lucas Esteves is available for selection.  Wilson and Rubio are apparently healthy.  Oh, and there's only 72 hours off until our next match also on the road.  Fraser could decide to roll out more of a B team thinking that Houston is the "easiest" of the 3 games this week, though the Dynamo is undefeated at home.  or he could focus on the points in front of him and go at Houston with full force, which would likely mean more rotation against the Galaxy, who we're neck and neck with for 3rd place.  As much as I, and many other fans, want to see the most focus put on the FSL match next weekend in reality that might be the best place to heavily rotate the squad as its at home, but FSL is no pushover as we saw last month.

In the end my gut tells me we'll likely see a "tuned" lineup where we get some starters like Trusty and Acosta but also some guys with less minutes so far this season like a Lewis or maybe a Beitashour.

Prediction: 1-0 win, goal by Kaye.  Colorado is a better team than Houston, there's no doubt of that.  I think the frustration from not getting the job done last week is going to carry into this match and have the team coming in hungry.  It will be a slow game in the heat but Kaye will get his first as a Rapid and the Rapids will contain Houston's offense for the 3 points.