Colorado Rockies: Critical Seven-Game Homestand Ahead

Was there disappointment in the Colorado Rockies’ 1-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday? Absolutely, but there’s little time to dwell on the past when you’re a team who is trying to make up ground in a race for a Wild Card spot.

And yes, I absolutely believe there’s still a chance at the postseason. But there’s a big “if” that should come right after that sentence. Let me explain.

Colorado took two of three games from the Braves at Turner Field to open the second half of the season and was a walk-off hit away from securing its first sweep in Atlanta since 1997. How Sunday ended will leave a bad taste in the mouths of Rockies fans … but there have been a few games this season that would also fit that description.

Having Gonzalez Germen in during a crucial stretch of the game (and leaving him in even when an Atlanta baserunner reached third base) will cause many to scratch their heads. Another tremendous effort by Jon Gray (five hits in seven shutout innings while striking out eight during a career-high 115-pitch performance) was wasted and another loss goes against the Rockies.

We can mope about it. We can break down everything that went wrong for the Rockies on Sunday, including two double plays that came at very inopportune times and an offense that was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. That’s in the past. Now Colorado must focus on the future … the immediate future.

As I said in an article last week, the opening of the second half represents a critical 10-game stretch for the Rockies. They’re three games into it, having gone 2-1 in Atlanta. Now the scene turns to 20th and Blake.

OK, so maybe that’s a little overdramatic but let’s look at what lies ahead for the Rockies this coming week.

Seven games at home against two teams with two of the worst records in baseball. It’s setting up to be one of the best weeks for the Colorado Rockies of the season … or one of the more frustrating.

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Regaining dominance at home has been something the Rockies have been striving to do since San Diego came to town in the first two home games of the season and scored 29 runs. It’s been an uphill struggle for the Rockies all season to make Coors Field a home-field advantage. This is the week where it has to happen.

Colorado is just 20-22 at home this season. Tampa Bay brings a 19-30 road record into Denver and Atlanta is merely 18-24 outside of Georgia. Again, the opportunities are there.

Tyler Anderson gets the call in the first game of the Tampa Bay series. He was phenomenal in the first half of the season. The Rockies will need him to be the same on Monday night to get the homestand off on the right foot.

Additionally, the offense will need to once again find its footing. In the final two games against Atlanta, the Rockies scored in just two of 18 innings. There has to be more consistency than that for Colorado to be a consistent winner.

Say what you will about Sunday’s loss … but it’s the upcoming week that will determine which way the rest of Colorado’s season will head. Make a statement by winning six or seven of eight games and you’ve reclaimed some LoDo mojo. Anything worse than that will represent a failed week.

Next: 3 Hypothetical Colorado Trades That Make Sense

It’s time to see which way the rest of Colorado’s season is heading. Buckle up. It should be a fun and highly scrutinized week ahead.