Colorado Rockies: playoff picture update with four weeks left

This weekend, the Colorado Rockies were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks to fall 6.5 games of the Diamondbacks for the first Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers won two of three over the weekend against the Washington Nationals to pull within a 1/2 a game of the second Wild Card spot. As the season enters the last four weeks, it is going to be a close race in the NL Wild Card standings.

As it stands now, the Rox are an astounding 20 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers as they continue their historic run. While not mathematically eliminated yet, the Rox have virtually no chance of winning the NL West and will have to turn to the wild card instead.

The Rox now trail the D-Backs by 6.5 for the first wild card as they have won 10 in a row, but the Rockies do hold the second wild card spot. If the season ended today, the Rox would travel to Arizona for a one game playoff, with the winner getting a date with the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Which D’Backs starter would the Rockies face in the Wild Card game?

Most likely, Zack Greinke would be going for the D’Backs in that game and they would have behind the eight ball in facing him. In Chase Field this season, he is 13-1 with a 2.31 ERA with a .197 opponent batting average in 16 starts. On the road, Greinke is just 3-5 with a 4.28 ERA and a .273 opponent batting average.

The other teams trailing the Rockies

Numerous teams behind the Rockies also want a trip to the postseason. The most serious threat at this point is the Brewers. After picking up two wins this weekend, they now trail the Rox by just half a game.

The Cardinals are also a serious contender, sitting just three back of the Rox. Even if the Cardinals seem out of it, they never are. Just look at the comeback they made in the 2011 Wild Card race if you need a reminder.

Further back, the Marlins have struggled as of late, but are only five back and can’t yet be counted out. The Pirates are trying to hang around at 7.5 back, but are starting to fade towards the back of the pack.

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The remaining schedules for the Rockies and the teams behind them

The Rockies have 26 games left on the season. 11 of those games will be against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers and another three against the Marlins. In 27 previous games against the triad of teams, the Rockies are 11-19 so this does not bode well for them.

However, including this series upcoming series with the Giants that starts today, the Rockies have 12 more games with the Padres and Giants. In 26 games against the Giants and Padres this season, the Rockies are 18-8. This is part of the reason that the Rockies need to win this series with the Giants, if not sweep.

The Brewers face the Cubs in seven more games, three against the Marlins, and three against the Cardinals. Against those teams this season, the Brewers have had 31 games against them and total, they are 16-15.

The Cardinals have seven more games with the Cubs and three with the Brewers. In 28 previous games against them, they are 11-17 so they may see some further issues with them.

The Marlins have an interesting schedule as they face the Nationals for three games (starting this afternoon at 4:10 MST), and the Brewers, Rockies, and Diamondbacks for three a piece. In 26 games against those four teams, the Marlins are 13-13.

Next: A series preview against the Giants

Final Thoughts

At this point, its a four or five team race for the second wild card spot and it is anyone’s guess as to who will win it. One things for sure, these last four weeks will be fun to watch, even more so if the Rox end up on top.