Colorado Rockies: Each Month’s Key Series for the Rest of the Season
With the All-Star Break coming to an end, the Colorado Rockies will start the second half of the season on Friday. Will they make the postseason? These series should be a contributing factor in answering that question.
Colorado will play both the NL best Los Angeles Dodgers and Wild Card leader Arizona Diamondbacks again. Those games won’t be the only ones that factor into the Rockies chances at October baseball. They still play another NL division leader later this month. In August, the team will see a possible NL Wild Card contender and a struggling AL club. September will be filled with division match ups but two stand out more than the rest.
July
Colorado Rockies @ Washington Nationals
When:
Friday, July 28th, 5:05 pm MDT
Saturday, July 29th, 5:05 pm MDT
Sunday, July 30th, 11:35 am MDT
Why it’s important:
The Rockies have five series the rest of the month of July. The Nationals seem to be the only team of that bunch headed toward the postseason. These two teams represented 6 of the 10 National League starters in Tuesday’s All Star Game. Even though the trio of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman look to be the big issue for the Rockies there may be a bigger problem. Although, the Rockies dropped 3 of 4 to the Nats in April, they lucked out and didn’t face Max Scherzer. Facing a guy like Scherzer is never easy but it could also help the Rockies prepare for the postseason to go on the road and hit against a star like him.
August
Atlanta Braves @ Colorado Rockies
When:
Monday, August 14th, 6:40 pm MDT
Tuesday, August 15th, 6:40 pm MDT
Wednesday, August 16th, 6:40 pm MDT
Thursday, August 17th, 1:10 pm MDT
Why it’s important:
Yes, the Braves weren’t very good to start the season but that’s changed. Since June, the team is 20-16 and put themselves in a odd position. The Braves are now in the same group as the Cubs and Cardinals who are chasing the Rockies for the second wild card spot in the NL. Atlanta could also be sellers at the deadline which could let they tank the rest of the way. Although, either way taking 3 of 4 here for the Rockies could put away another team trying to take their postseason spot.
Detroit Tigers @ Colorado Rockies
When:
Monday, August 28th, 6:40 pm MDT
Tuesday, August 29th, 6:40 pm MDT
Wednesday, August 30th, 1:10 pm MDT
Why it’s important:
The Tigers haven’t been good all year, thus why they will be sellers at the deadline. There is certain targets on their team that could be Rockies by the time this series starts. The Rockies are 7-5 in interleague play so far this year. As well as Detroit has been terrible on the road this year with a record of 16-28 through the midway point. This could be a series where the Rockies pick up three victories against an uncommon opponent.
September/October
Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks
When:
Monday, September 11th, 7:40 pm MDT
Tuesday, September 12th, 7:40 pm MDT
Wednesday, September 13th, 7:40 pm MDT
Thursday, September 14th, 1:40 pm MDT
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Why it’s important:
This four game series will be the last regular season meeting between the D-Backs and the Rockies. At the break the teams have evenly split their 12 games of 2017. With both teams as clear front runners for the two wild cards in the National League this series could be the tiebreaker that determines who hosts Game 163. Even after their recent losing spell the Rockies are only two games back of Arizona for the first Wild Card spot, which can be made up at the last visit to Chase Field.
Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
When:
Friday, September 29th, 6:10 pm MDT
Saturday, September 30th, 6:10 pm MDT
Sunday, October 1st, 1:10 pm MDT
Next: 5 Must-Read Articles before the All-Star break ends
Why it’s important:
Games 160, 161 and 162 might be the reason the Rox play Game 163. The Dodgers incredible stretch of winning has now put given them the best record in baseball at the break. Playing arguable the best team in baseball with what could be your team’s postseason hopes on the line sounds scary but there could be a plus to it. The Dodgers are 7.5 games up on the Diamondbacks in the NL West and 8 games up on the Nationals for first place in the National League. Los Angeles might have nothing to play for in this last series of the season while the Rockies could be trying to clinch their first postseason berth since 2009.