Colorado Rockies: 2017 postseason outlook with 20 games remaining

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 8: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy #21 talks to starting pitcher German Marquez #48 just before manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies removes Marquez from the game during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 8: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy #21 talks to starting pitcher German Marquez #48 just before manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies removes Marquez from the game during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 8: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 8: Catcher Jonathan Lucroy /

Including today’s matinee with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, the Colorado Rockies have just 20 games left in the regular season. The race to the postseason has essentially hit its stretch run.

Today, we want to take a look at how Colorado stacks up against its competition over the next 20 games and just how possible Rocktober might actually be this season.

After Saturday’s 6-5 win over the Dodgers, the Rockies have a 77-65 record. They also have a three-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers for the second Wild Card slot. Each of those three teams (Rockies, Cardinals and Brewers) have 20 games left in the regular season.

Here are Colorado’s remaining 20 games…

September 10 at Los Angeles Dodgers

September 11-14 at Arizona

September 15-17 vs. San Diego

September 19-20 at San Francisco

September 21-24 at San Diego

September 25-27 vs. Miami

September 29-October 1 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Only Colorado’s next and final series of the season are against teams with winning records. However, nothing is guaranteed in baseball. The Padres historically give the Rockies trouble, especially in recent years at Petco Park. San Francisco took a three-game series from the Rockies the last time Colorado ventured into the City by the Bay.

So how does that compare to the Cardinals and Brewers? Let’s take a look…

MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 30: Randal Grichuk #15 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on August 30, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – AUGUST 30: Randal Grichuk #15 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on August 30, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Cardinals remaining schedule (20 games remaining, 74-68 overall)

September 10 vs. Pittsburgh

September 12-14 vs. Cincinnati

September 15-17 at Chicago Cubs

September 19-21 at Cincinnati

September 22-24 at Pittsburgh

September 25-28 vs. Chicago Cubs

September 29-October 1 vs. Milwaukee

Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies /

Colorado Rockies

The Cardinals and Brewers end the season with a critical series against each other. From a Colorado perspective, the Rockies hope to have the Wild Card slot locked up by that time. However, outside of the final series of the season, St. Louis has seven games left against the Central-leading Chicago Cubs and nine against the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, who are out of the playoff race.

St. Louis made a move to acquire former Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio through a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, so it’s very obvious that the Cardinals believe they have a chance to catch the Rockies. They have an uphill battle with so many games against the Cubs and Brewers, both teams fighting for the postseason as well.

Milwaukee’s remaining schedule (20 games remaining, 74-68 overall)

September 10 at Chicago Cubs

September 11-13 vs. Pittsburgh

September 15-17 at Miami

September 18-20 at Pittsburgh

September 21-24 vs. Chicago Cubs

September 26-28 vs. Cincinnati

September 29-October 1 at St. Louis

As it turns out, the Miami Marlins could have a lot to say in the race for the National League Wild Card. They visit Milwaukee this coming weekend and will be in Denver during the final week of the regular season to take on the Rockies.

Like the Cardinals, Milwaukee has a schedule filled with division foes, including four games left with the Cubs (a team they whacked 15-2 on Saturday). Nine games against the Pirates and Reds could be the barometer of how strong Milwaukee’s chances are down the stretch.

Next: Who might make Colorado's 2017 postseason roster

Rockies fans shouldn’t overlook the Brewers. Milwaukee was within just a half-game of the Rockies before stubbing their collective toe by getting swept in a three-game series in Cincinnati earlier this month.

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