Storylines to Watch:
Seattle adds Román Torres and Stefan Frei to their lengthy injury list
After leading Panama to their first World Cup appearance, defender Román Torres limped off with an apparent left ankle injury in the 56th minute of his country's final Group G game against Tunisia. He was added to a list of injured Seattle players that include Jordan Morris (torn ACL), Kelvin Leerdam (right hamstring strain), Handwalla Bwana (right midfoot sprain), Felix Chenkam (right hamstring strain) and Lamar Neagle (left groin strain).
Over the weekend, goalkeeper Bryan Meredith made his first MLS appearance since 2012 as he started in place of Stefan Frei, who also made Seattle's injury list due to a concussion sustained against the Chicago Fire on June 23. Meredith made three saves against the Portland Timbers. Frei is listed as day-to-day so there's a chance Meredith may be between the pipes again on Wednesday.
Player to Watch: Will Bruin
At the midway point in the season, Will Bruin remains the only Sounders player to score multiple goals in 2018. Bruin has scored three goals to lead the team, while also providing four assists in just 11 appearances.
"It's not panic time, but it's time to start grinding down, cleaning up little details and start getting three points" Bruin said last week. "Anytime I'm involved in goals or creating chances I'm happy. I want to be scoring them because I am a center forward and that's just every forward's mentality. But if I can set people up too I'm going to do it, because anything to help us get goals is good."
The MLS veteran has earned a reputation for being a consistent goalscorer during his six seasons with Houston Dynamo, where he recorded 50 goals. In 2017, his first year with Seattle Sounders FC, Bruin was in a tight race for the club's Golden Boot title. He fell just one goal shy of Clint Dempsey's 12 and finished as the runner up. Two of Bruin's 11 goals last season were recorded against the Rapids on October 22, and their last 4th of July meeting.
It's likely #17 will lead the line in Seattle's attack on Wednesday night.
Colorado Rapids vs Seattle Sounders FC - Head-to-Head
The Rapids have met Sounders FC 22 times in the MLS regular season, resulting in a 5-15-2 record. Seattle are currently in the eleventh spot in the West with a 3-9-3 overall record. The Rapids, meanwhile, are coming off a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC that sees their season record sit at 4-9-3 overall.
The last time the two sides met was on October 22, with Seattle snagging to a 3-0 win over the Rapids at CenturyLink Field following goals from Will Bruin and Nicolas Lodeiro (2).
Seattle has the edge in the overall head-to-head series.
- Head-to-Head Overall: Colorado Rapids 5 wins, 24 goals | Seattle Sounders FC 15 wins, 40 goals | 2 ties
- Head-to-Head in Colorado: Colorado Rapids 3 wins, 15 goals | Seattle Sounders FC 6 wins, 18 goals | 2 ties
- Previous Meeting: Seattle Sounders FC 3, Colorado Rapids 0 (October 22, 2017)
