Colorado Rockies: Postseason picture heading into the weekend

The Colorado Rockies finished up an eight-game road trip visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks with a duel in the desert on Thursday afternoon in Phoenix. Even though the Rockies dropped a 7-0 decision to Arizona in the road trip finale, Colorado still finished the trip with a 6-2 mark through the National League West’s top two teams in the standings.

As Friday dawns and the Rockies prepare to open a short three-game weekend homestand against the San Diego Padres, they hold a 2.5-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers in the race for the final National League Wild Card spot. They are also now five games behind the Diamondbacks in the quest to host Game 163.

So how does the remaining schedule look for the Rockies, Cardinals and Brewers? Let’s take a look.

Colorado (80-67) schedule

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

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The Rockies simply can’t afford too many slip-ups over the next nine games against the two teams who occupy the bottom two slots in the National League West standings. It looks like it will boil down to Colorado’s final week filled with home games against the Miami Marlins and Dodgers.

St. Louis (77-69) schedule

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

Rockies fans will become big fans of the defending World Champions over the next few games. With seven games on tap in the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, Chicago could play a big role in the Wild Card chase by keeping their hold on the National League Central and beating their arch-rivals.

Milwaukee (77-69) schedule

September 15-17 Miami (at Milwaukee, even though Miami will be the home team)

September 18-20 at Pittsburgh

September 21-24 vs. Chicago Cubs

September 26-28 vs. Cincinnati

September 29-October 1 at St. Louis

Hurricane Irma may have a role in the Wild Card competition. The Marlins-Brewers series has been shifted to Milwaukee, giving the Brewers three unexpected home games at a critical time of the season.

Next: Which free agents could re-sign with Colorado in 2018?

It’s also worth reminding readers that Milwaukee and St. Louis end the season against each other and could be pivotal in the Wild Card standings. While the Rockies and Dodgers end the season at Coors Field, there will be plenty of scoreboard watching on this mammoth series in St. Louis.