Colorado Rockies: The final 20 games look daunting

The Colorado Rockies have 20 games left of the pandemic-shortened 60-game season and the path to the playoffs could prove difficult.

This is it. The final home stretch. The Colorado Rockies play 20 games in the next 21 days that will decide whether or not they will make the expanded 2020 MLB playoffs.

Currently, the Rockies are hanging on to the seventh playoff spot (just ahead of the eighth-place Giants) but holding on to it looks rather daunting. So let’s breakdown the final 20 games of the schedule.

• 21 days/20 games/2 off days/1 doubleheader
• 6 series: 2 vs AL West teams, 4 NL West teams
• 9 home games/11 road games
• Opponents combined winning percentage: .530

The biggest obstacle facing the Rockies and another trip to Rocktober is they play six straight games at Coors Field against division-leading Dodgers and A’s from September 10-15.

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On top of that, they begin this three-week stretch tonight with a three-game series at the San Diego Padres, who are sitting in second place in the NL West and are revamped after making multiple moves at the trade deadline. That makes nine of the 20 remaining games against teams who are all but guaranteed to be playing in October.

A defining series could be the four-game set at the San Francisco Giants from September 21-24. The Giants are currently a half-game behind the Rockies, sitting in the final playoff spot. Historically, the Rockies have not fared well in San Francisco, as they are 11-18 in San Francisco since 2017.

There is a reprieve in the schedule, however, as the Angels come to Coors this weekend for three games with little to no hope of making the playoffs. However, don’t forget that Mike Trout still patrols center field for the Angels and his bat in the thin air of Colorado could spell disaster for Colorado pitching.

The Rockies also close out the season at the Diamondbacks, who are also virtually out of playoff season and could have nothing to play for come the last series of the season. The four-game series will include a doubleheader to make up for the August 27 game that was postponed.

The Rockies will have to hold their own against the Dodgers, A’s, and Padres and take advantage against the teams that have nothing left to play for if they have any hope for a run at Rocktober.