Welcome to the most difficult part of your schedule, Colorado Rockies.
And this isn’t just a difficult stretch, it’s an onslaught of seven straight winning teams over the next 24 days, with one day off in between.
Starting tonight, the third-place Rockies (54-47) host the Oakland Athletics (61-43) in a three-game series over the weekend. We give you the series preview here, as the Rockies try to keep on their hot streak, going 8-2 over their last 10 games. Which, ironically, is the same record over the last 10 for the A’s.
It won’t be easy this weekend at Coors Field.
Then, the Rockies go on a seven-game, NL Central road trip and visit the St. Louis Cardinals (51-51) for four games before heading to face the Brewers (59-46) for three games in Milwaukee. Luckily for Colorado, they’re one of the best road teams in all of baseball, with a 30-23 record away from Coors this season.
The purple and black head back home to host the solid Pittsburgh Pirates (53-51) for three games, before the NL West-leading Dodgers (57-46) come to Denver for four games.
Then, Colorado is back on the road for a vastly important six-game road trip in mid-August, heading to face the Astros (67-37) in Houston for two contests, then enjoying their one day off, before playing four at the Atlanta Braves (54-45).
Add it all up and that’s seven straight series for the Rockies against winning teams. Combined, the records of those seven opponents are 402-319, a .558 winning percentage overall.
Simply stated, the Rockies want to make the postseason for a second straight year, and if they are to accomplish that feat, they’ll have to find a way to beat multiple good teams, sometimes, on the road. This three-week stretch will be crucial in terms of either holding onto their above .500 record, or losing it and wondering what could have been.
Colorado’s been hot as of late, putting together all aspects of their game on a daily basis. And after the heartbreak loss to Houston on Tuesday night in extras, the Rockies bounced back to beat the defending world champs with a walk-off winner by Charlie Blackmon.
They know what it will take to beat very good, and sometimes better, teams; now, Colorado’s got to make it happen.