Colorado Rockies: 3 keys for the D’Backs series

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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 23: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by manage Bud Black #10 after hitting a one run home run against pitcher Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 23: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by manage Bud Black #10 after hitting a one run home run against pitcher Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Colorado Rockies have been reeling for two weeks and now, they are on the precipice of being in last place in the National League West.

The Colorado Rockies went 11-3 in the first 14 games of the 2020 season, but in the next 14 games, they have gone 2-12. With that skid, they have gone from having the best record in baseball to being in last place in the National League West if they lose on Monday to the D’Backs, who are a half-game back of the Rockies, who are now in virtual with the San Francisco Giants for third place (the Giants have an off-day).

Therefore, this four-game series with the D’Backs is crucial for the Rockies to at least split. They can break their funk with three keys.

Situational offense, not just situational hitting

The Rockies hitting, in general, has not been good during their skid but the must improve their situational hitting. With runners in scoring position since the Rockies last faced the D’backs 10 games ago, the Rockies are 14-for-79 with runners in scoring position (.177 average). The Rockies won one of those games and they went 5-for-11 in that game.

Subtract that game and the Rockies have gone 9-for-68 (.132 batting average). Simply put, you won’t win if you can’t drive in runs.

However, situational hitting is not the entire problem: It’s situational thinking while on offense, in general.

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