Giants-Rockies Series Preview #5

Going to change up the format for these series previews for the final month of this season and see if it sticks.

The Giants and Rockies begin a three-game series this afternoon at Coors Field, the first of their final six games of the season. The Giants are 68-70 on the season with 0% odds of making the postseason.

The Rockies are 74-62, just half a game behind the Dodgers for the division lead, and a 32.8% probability to make the postseason. They’re 33-20 since July 1st (the Giants are 24-30), when they began that month 6.0 games back. Despite closing the gap, they still have a -15 run differential on the season.

What’s odd about this series is that it’s the third major holiday where the Giants will be playing at Coors Field: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and now Labor Day. The Rockies have won both holiday games and both of those series, the last such series being the one where the Giants scored only three runs in a three-game series, a franchise worst.

The Rockies lead the season series 8-5. The Giants still lead the All-Time Series, 232-195.

// Pitching Probables //

Game 1: Madison Bumgarner (5-5, 3.80 FIP) vs. Tyler Anderson (6-7, 4.72 FIP)

Game 2: Dereck Rodriguez (6-2, 3.31 FIP) vs. German Marquez (11-9, 3.67 FIP)

Game 3: Andrew Suarez (6-9, 3.31 FIP) vs Antonio Senzatella (4-5 ERA 4.08 FIP)

// Top hitters //

Nolan Arenado - .301 / .382 /.557 | 136 OPS+ | 1.105 in 64 games (260 PA) at Coors

Trevor Story - .293 / .350 / .539 | 122 OPS+ | .997 OPS in 64 games (268 PA) at Coors

Charlie Blackmon - .279.345.475 | 107 OPS+ | .914 OPS in 59 games (264 PA) at Coors

Carlos Gonzalez - .287 / .342 / .481 | 107 OPS+ | .995 OPS in 50 games (187 PA) at Coors

// Last bits //

The Rockies call-ups on September 1st were LHP Harrison Musgrave 3B Pat Valaika RHP Yency Almonte RF Noel Cuevas, and C Tom Murphy .

Before the series, the Giants recalled from the Sacramento River Cats RHP Casey Kelly LHP Steven Okert Pierce Johnson, to join RHP Ray Black SS Kelby Tomlinson, who had been called up on the 1st and 2nd, respectively.

Dinger is still their mascot.

Hitter to watch

The Rockies signed 38-year Matt Holliday — yes, the Matt Holliday who tried to catch a ball in left field with his groin and who tried to take out Marco Scutaro — to a minor league deal in late July. The move worked because they called him up on August 23rd and since then, in 8 games, he’s 7-for-18 with a home run and 4 walks. Look for him to get a big hit at some point and leave you wondering, “WHAT?”

Pitcher to watch

Once lights-out, closer Wade Davis saw his ERA hit 5.51 on August 9th. It has since come back down to 4.72 (4.22 FIP) and in the 8 games since August 9th — let’s say that was his rock bottom — he’s struck out 10 and walked 1 in 8 innings and has allowed on 2 hits and 0 runs. But the rock bottom potential is still there! Although he’s facing the Giants — easy outs by the professional measure — there’s a nonzero chance he’s shaky, and if he’s shaky, then maybe... just maybe... this vacant, gutted, declined Giants team might have a shot.

Prediction

The Rockies will sweep the Giants in convincing fashion.