COMMERCE CITY — The Rapids, in heavy pursuit of a “difference-making” striker while the Major League Soccer transfer window opens for a limited time, need only look in one direction for help.

To their own “nursery.”

Midfielder Martin Rivero has yet to take hold of the 2013 season, starting in only four games after returning from a broken foot and before injuring a hamstring. He has missed the past five games.

Rivero’s absence as the playmaking presence in the midfield has left a vacuum. Without his guidance, striker Edson Buddle has found himself often dropping into the midfield, too far from the spot he’s paid to mine: the goal.

“He needs to be in the box,” Rapids coach Oscar Pareja said of Buddle. “He’s doing the part of the job we need from Edson. And he’s working toward the other part, which is to make plays.

“Martin is a key player in that position. So having Martin, maybe (Buddle) doesn’t need to drop that much.”

Colorado is undefeated in its past four MLS games and, after beating New England this week, is only three points short of second-place Portland in the Western Conference. But in a hyper-competitive West, the Rapids are still out of playoff positioning.

What’s the fix? Colorado needs a striker to score his boots off. But the Rapids have yet to see any one player carry the goal load.

The Rapids are 8-2-3 when Buddle plays this season. His controlling, veteran presence clearly benefits Colorado’s possession game. Lately, though, he’s been a holding forward, often playing with his back to the goal while a conduit for others to streak down the wings.

“Problem is, Buddle’s not in the box enough,” Marcelo Balboa, the Rapids’ play-by-play voice for Altitude TV, said last week.

“If you watch the games recently, Buddle is dropped into the midfield. He turns and plays a great ball. His distribution is fantastic. Unfortunately, now he’s 40 yards from goal and he can’t get back to the box quick enough.

“If he wants to score goals, he has to be in the 18.”

The Rapids on Wednesday won their first game at home this season after trailing at halftime. They turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory after Nick LaBrocca leveled the score to start a rally.

LaBrocca is the 10th Rapids player to score this season — a stat that is both boon and bust. Colorado is finding scoring from all parts of the field, but not from one go-to scorer.

“That’s why we’re trying to catch up some stuff,” Pareja said. “How can we fulfill that need with another player who can come in and do that job. (Buddle) is doing part of the job very well and he’s useful. But now we need something else there. And we are going to see how can we compensate that need with other players.”

That need can be filled by Rivero. He excels at distribution, both in the middle of the field and veering to the left side. He led Colorado in assists last year.

The Rapids may still find their elusive difference-making scorer on the open market (never mind that most teams worldwide are looking for the same thing). But for starters, Rivero would be a boost.

Nick Groke: 303-954-1015, ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke

This article has been amended in the online archive to denote that Colorado’s victory over New England was their first at home this season after trailing at halftime. They also trailed at Montreal at halftime on June 29 before rallying to win.