Rockies swept by Padres, nine-game homestand on tap

The Rockies-Padres series mercifully came to a close for Colorado, as San Diego finished off a three-game sweep with a 5-3 win.

Colorado lost in walk-off fashion Monday (1-0) and got routed Tuesday (14-5) before dropping another close game to finish out the series Wednesday.

The Rockies are off today before starting a nine-game homestand Friday, with a three game series against the Angels. After that Colorado has a short two-game series vs. Oakland and then a four-game set vs. the Dodgers.

The homestand is the last one of the season for Colorado. After the series finale on Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. L.A. the Rockies play four games each vs. the Giants and Diamondbacks on the road to finish the year.

Chances for Rocktober?

Despite sitting at 20-23, the Rockies still have a legitimate chances at making the playoffs this season, assuming they can start winning at home. Colorado is 9-12 at Coors, including going 4-10 over the past 14 games there.

As it stands heading into Thursday’s games, the Rockies (20-23, .465) trail the Giants (23-21, .523) and Marlins (19-19, .500) for one of the final two playoffs berths.

Remember, this season, due to games being canceled over COVID-19 outbreaks, there’s a chance not all teams will play a full 60-game season. In that case winning percentage will determine who gets in.

Rockies-Padres highlights

No fans, no fun for Nolan

The Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders wrote about how Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado might miss having fans at games more than anyone else.

“It’s nice to have that energy, that little pick me up. Sometimes it’s hard to find, within yourself, when you are going day-to-day. So it’s fun to play in good environments because that gets you going.”

Arenado said before Wednesday’s game.

Dahl returns

One bright spot Wednesday was the return of outfielder David Dahl for Colorado. Dahl had been on the 10-day IL due to lower back soreness and last played in a game on Aug. 17.

He didn’t play Wednesday, but manager Bud Black is hoping Dahl is able to contribute down the stretch for the Rockies.

“It looks as though he’s healthy, he’s ready to go, he’s in a good frame of mind. We’ll try to get him in there as we get to the weekend and as we get to this homestand. But we need David to be ready.”

Black said.

Extra bases

• Patrick Saunders answered readers’ questions, including if Colorado’s bullpen can rebound during the homestretch of the season.
• TheAthletic.com’s Enos Sarris looked at whether six struggling MLB stars will be able to turn their season around during the final three weeks of the regular season. Tops on the list is Arenado. Sarris believes the Rockies slugger will figure it out before it’s too late.
• Ian Desmond was named the Rockies’ nominee for the 2020 Roberto Clemente Award, which goes annually to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”
• In other baseball news on Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves set the National League record for runs in a game as they beat the Marlins 29-9 and finished just one run short of tying the modern Major League record of 30 set by the Texas Rangers who beat the Baltimore Orioles 30-3 in 2007.