I’m going to be an optimist on the remainder of the Colorado Rapids season. The team has 10 games left, six at home, and is holding on to the final MLS playoff spot.

Saturday, the Rapids (7-6-7, 28 points) face the underperforming Houston Dynamo (6-10-5, 23 points) at 7 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. After a woeful 10-game stretch, this is a chance to get healthy.

The Rapids are 1-3-6 after a fantastic start. They have been hard-pressed to score goals all season, and it’s unclear where the goal-creating spark is going to come from now.

But, that’s no reason to hang heads in shame. Instead, it’s time to find some mettle and attack a mediocre team coming to altitude.

Regardless, here we go.

Recordsetting: With his next start, most likely on Saturday, Pablo Mastroeni will hold the record for the most starts in a Rapids uniform with 171.

Mastroeni, who shares the record with Chris Henderson, has been toiling away on some unsuccessful squads. He has two years left on his contract. Perhaps now is the time to start pushing his teammates to make a playoff run.

Home Record: Colorado has lost only once at home all season, posting a 4-1-4 record at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park heading into Saturday’s game. Beginning with Houston, six of the Rapids final 10 games are at home.

Road Woes: Houston has struggled on the road this year, coming to Colorado with a 1-7-2 road record. They’ve scored seven goals in their 10 road games, while giving up 19.

Last Time: The teams tied their first meeting of the season 2-2 on June 26 in Houston. The Dynamo scored after 17 minutes, but a Conor Casey goal and an own goal gave the Rapids a 2-1 lead. However, Houston forward Joseph Ngwenya leveled the game with 10 minutes to go.

The two teams were coming off the World Cup two-week hiatus, and neither team looked sharp.

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