Rockies could climb out of last place this weekend

It’s far from the pennant race, but the Colorado Rockies head to Oracle Park this weekend with something they haven’t had much of in 2026: a realistic short-term goal in the standings.

At 48-73, the Rockies sit in last place in the National League West, two games behind the 50-71 Giants in fourth. A sweep of the three-game set that opens Friday night would vault Colorado out of the NL West cellar for the first time since April. Even taking two of three would pull them within a game. In a season where any sign of the arrow pointing up at 20th and Blake matters, this qualifies as a storyline worth watching.

The Rockies have some real momentum. They took two of three from Arizona this week, with the help of former first round pick Zac Veen, who took his hot bath with him from Triple-A Albuquerque. Jake McCarthy swinging it well, too. He’s the reigning NL Player of the Week.

The hosts are limping — 3-7 in their last 10 contests.

Pitching matchups

Game 1: Friday, 8:15 p.m. MDT: Kyle Freeland (LHP, 3-10, 6.63 ERA) vs. Landen Roupp (RHP, 7-11, 4.22 ERA, 123 SO). Two struggling starters. Freeland has been hit hard all year; Roupp racks up strikeouts but gets little run support.

Game 2: Saturday, 2:05 p.m. MDT: Michael Lorenzen (RHP, 3-10, 6.83 ERA) vs. Logan Webb (RHP, 7-7, 3.59 ERA). Toughest draw of the weekend. Webb is the best arm either team will run out there, and Lorenzen’s ERA is the worst in Colorado’s rotation.

Game 3: Sunday, 2:05 p.m. MDT: Gabriel Hughes (RHP, 0-4, 5.61 ERA) vs. Blade Tidwell (RHP, 0-0, 2.78 ERA). Hughes is hunting his first big-league win. Tidwell has been sharp in limited action.

Season series

The two clubs are knotted at 5-5 on the year. Colorado blew the doors off San Francisco 15-3 at Coors Field on July 3, and the Giants answered by taking three of four at Oracle Park during the July 9-12 set. The Giants have dominated this rivalry in recent years — 11-2 in 2025, 10-3 in 2024, and 314-235 all-time — but the Giants aren’t good this year.

The big picture

The Rockies need to go 15-26 the rest of the way to avoid becoming just the fifth franchise in MLB history to post four consecutive 100-loss seasons. Climb out of last place? It’s possible!

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