Rapids Start MLS Play Under The Arch

Going to try to feature NPS sites as much as possible this season

CCC was fun but we all know that's a temporary thing.  Time to start the real season with the first league game tomorrow night in St. Louis.  Both teams made their major moves last summer, though St. Louis has had a bit more churn than the Rapids this offseason.  Regardless it should be two teams who are on the more settled end of the spectrum for a first game.  Of course Colorado is coming off the midweek game against LAFC while St. Louis is getting their first competitive minutes.  What's worth more, rest or already have shaken some rust off?  Kickoff tomorrow is at 6:30pm on MLS Season Pass.

Availability Report:

OUT: D Andreas Maxso, D Jackson Travis, D Sam Vines, M Ted Ku-DiPietro, M Connor Ronan, F Darren Yapi

QUESTIONABLE: D Reggie Cannon

That's...not a good way to start the season.  We knew Yapi and KDP were dealing with long-term injuries this preseason, and Vines picked up his knock in Mexico and was always going to be iffy to be ready to start the season.  Ronan apparently got injured on Monday, and Maxso was also injured for the CCC match.  We saw Cannon go down at the end of that game but he's apparently more likely to play than not, based on what I've heard.  Travis' injury is a mystery after coming in when Cannon was injured Tuesday night.

Given all this and the quick turn-around with the CCC I'm not going to predict a lineup.  If Cannon can go we'll see the same back 4 we saw on Tuesday.  If he can't we may roll out the 3-5-2 with somebody like Cabral playing left wing back.  It will also depend on how much faith Armas has in getting a result on LA on Tuesday and how much he wants to save for that.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Navarro.  At full strength I think we win this game but with the injuries and schedule congestion I think we end up being satisfied with the draw.