Colorado Rockies: Ranking the 5 best series of the 2019 season

DENVER, CO - JULY 25: A general view of the stadium as the Colorado Rockies take on the Houston Astros during interleague play at Coors Field on July 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Astros 3-2. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 25: A general view of the stadium as the Colorado Rockies take on the Houston Astros during interleague play at Coors Field on July 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Astros 3-2. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 11: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with Chris Iannetta #22 of the Colorado Rockies after McMahon hit a walk-off, three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on August 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado won 3-2. (Photo by Joe Mahoney/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 11: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with Chris Iannetta #22 of the Colorado Rockies after McMahon hit a walk-off, three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on August 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado won 3-2. (Photo by Joe Mahoney/Getty Images) /

It’s almost the start of September, signaling the last month of regular season baseball … and the most important stretch for the Colorado Rockies as they are in the middle of a wild NL West division race.

However, I’m not here to talk about September or October or even this season for that matter. I’m here to talk about the Colorado Rockies 2019 season.

Major League Baseball recently released the 2019 season schedule for all teams. Despite the tight race going on right now and the focus being brought to each game by fans and players alike, I’m going to dive into next year’s schedule and pick my top five series fans should circle on their calendars.

But first, let’s start with an honorable mention selection

Honorable Mention: Spring Training in Mexico vs. Arizona (March 9-10)

Unfortunately, I couldn’t include this series in the rankings because it isn’t in the regular season, but I wanted to mention it.

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Major League Baseball will be bringing baseball games back to Mexico. The Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks will be playing a Spring Training game in Monterrey, Mexico. Major League Baseball has also scheduled two other regular season series to be played in Monterrey: Reds vs. Cardinals and Angels vs. Astros.

This will be Colorado’s fourth appearance in Mexico and the franchise’s first since 2015 spring training (which was also against the Diamondbacks). The Rockies played the San Diego Padres in Monterrey to open the 1999 season.

MIAMI, FL – JULY 09: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays and the World Team swings at a pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JULY 09: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays and the World Team swings at a pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

5. Vs. Toronto Blue Jays (May 31-June 2)

To be honest, this game statistically isn’t enticing based upon the numbers this year. The Blue Jays are fourth in the American League East with a current record of 60-69 (heading into Sunday’s play). As a team, they are hitting .243 and have a team ERA of 4.75.

The reason I chose this series is because of the players who will be coming to Denver that fans won’t get a chance to see play very often given they are in the AL.

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The first player is Troy Tulowitzki. He hasn’t played this year due to an injury, but it is always exciting to see the former Rockies shortstop. Hopefully he will be healthy next season.

The second player, and probably the more anticipated one, is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He is ranked the highest prospect in baseball.

The 19-year-old has yet to make an MLB appearance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is in the Blue Jays lineup next year given his numbers in the minors.

In 86 minor league games this year, he is hitting .394 with 18 homers, 72 RBI and a 1.101 OPS. If you want to see the future of baseball, buy tickets for this series at Coors Field.

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 10: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies sets to throw to first to complete a third inning double play after forcing out Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on August 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 10: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies sets to throw to first to complete a third inning double play after forcing out Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on August 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

4. Vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (April 5-7)

The start of another baseball season. It doesn’t get much better than that. Oh wait, it can when it’s against an National League West rival.

To open the season at home, the Rockies will be taking on their division rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Of course, there is still plenty to be determined this season between the Dodgers and Rockies (and Diamondbacks as well), but any time the Dodgers come to town, it makes the series that much more interesting.

In 2017, the Rockies had a winning season against the Dodgers (10-9) for the first time since 2013. As of right now, they are 5-7 against the Dodgers in 2018. This opening series will be an important one to start strong against the division foe. Colorado’s all-time record against the Dodgers is 183-245.

I shouldn’t have to sell this series. LoDo will be rocking, festivities around Coors, the city covered in purple and the feel of summer on its way. Like I said, nothing like the start of another baseball season.

DENVER, CO – JULY 25: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates his walk-off solo home run with Gerardo Parra #8 and Carlos Gonzalez #5 in the in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros during interleague play at Coors Field on July 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Astros 3-2. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 25: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates his walk-off solo home run with Gerardo Parra #8 and Carlos Gonzalez #5 in the in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros during interleague play at Coors Field on July 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Astros 3-2. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

3. Vs. Houston Astros (July 2-3), @ Houston Astros (August 6-7)

Technically, these are separate series but I’m going to put them in the same category for the sake of this article. Similar to this season, the Rockies will play a two home, two away set against the Houston Astros.

And hopefully also like this season, the series will be must-watch baseball.

The first series against the Astros this season was split. Both games were close going into late innings. The first game went into extras where the Astros pulled away for a 8-2 victory.

The next night was a similar game but a different outcome. It ended on a walk-off home run by Charlie Blackmon.

Also very similar to that series, this one in 2019 will have fireworks … literally. The Rockies will be putting on postgame firework shows to celebrate Independence Day at Coors Field (July 2-3).

The second series in Houston this year was also split 1-1. So, if history repeats itself, these series will be close again.

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 27: The game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals is delayed due to rain at Yankee Stadium on July 27, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 27: The game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals is delayed due to rain at Yankee Stadium on July 27, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2. @ New York Yankees (July 19-21)

If you are a Rockies fan who plans his or her family vacations around games, mark this one on your calendar.

The Rockies will travel to the Big Apple in the middle of the summer to take on the Yankees. If you haven’t been to a Yankees game, you are missing out, especially with the recent addition of Giancarlo Stanton, who is the Colorado Rockies’ kryptonite.

When he was with the Miami Marlins, his batting average was .292 with three home runs and a 1.042 OPS in six games against the Rockies.

The Yankees currently have the second-best record in baseball. The combo of Aaron Judge and Stanton and the talent of starting pitching from Luis Severino to CC Sabathia will be a ton of fun to watch.

Take a trip to Yankee Stadium, walk the area around Monument Park and see the stats from some of the most iconic names in baseball history. Of course, wear your purple while you do it.

Aside from the games, you also get to spend a weekend in “the city that never sleeps.”

BOSTON, MA – MAY 20: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox high fives Eduardo Nunez #36 after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on May 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 20: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox high fives Eduardo Nunez #36 after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on May 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

1. @ Boston Red Sox (April 14-15), Vs. Boston Red Sox (August 27-28)

The Rockies will play another interleague two home, two away set against the Boston Red Sox. The first series will be at Boston in April and the second series will be at Coors Field in late August.

Boston has loads of talent and is easily the best team in baseball this year with a 90-41 record. Next season, these series could be against the reigning World Series champs since they are currently the favorites to win it all this season.

The last time the Rockies saw the Red Sox was in Boston back in 2016. The Rockies went 1-2 in the three-game series. The last time the Red Sox came to Denver was in 2013 when they split the series 1-1. Overall, the Rockies are 9-14 against Boston.

Besides seeing a team that doesn’t come to Denver very often, fans will get to watch AL MVP candidates Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. They also could possibly see AL Cy Young candidate Chris Sale.

Next. The top 25 Rockies players and prospects under 25 years old. dark

Take out your 2019 calendars now and mark these dates because these series will be baseball you definitely don’t want to miss.

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