Colorado Rockies facing HUGE week
After sweeping the Atlanta Braves and taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies find themselves just 4.5 games back in the wild card race while facing perhaps the biggest week of the season.
Just 33 games remain in the Rockies season, including tonight’s game as the Rockies open a three game series with the San Francisco Giants, that stand just 1.5 game back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League Wild Card. 
After the Rockies three game set with the Giants, the team returns home to Coors Field for one game against the Phillies before traveling back out to California to play the NL West leading San Diego Padres for another three games. Simply put, the next seven games for the Rockies could make or break their playoff/ wild card hunt.
It will be a tough week for the Rockies on the road, where they have been terrible. The offense has struggled mightily on the road and, just as the team takes on one of the biggest road swings of the years, the team is uncertain as to the availability of Troy Tulowitzki.
Tulo tweaked his groin a bit on Sunday against the Dodgers and was held out of tonight’s lineup, although Jim Tracy did say he would be available to pinch hit. It is still unclear as to whether he will be in Tuesday’s lineup.
Ian Stewart was also place on the 15-day disabled list today due to a strained rib cage. The 15 days is retroactive to Aug. 26.
The infield will survive however as Clint Barmes was reactivated from the bereavement list after he returned home from visiting his ailing father. However, it is Stewart’s and Tulo’s bats that will be missed the most, especially on the road.
The Rockies need Tulo back as soon as possible, but risking a more severe injury is something they have to avoid, and that is why Tulo will sit until he is fully recovered.
Aaron Cook will also return to the starting rotation this Friday after his recent stint on the DL with a toe injury. Cook has looked awful since spring training, but has had success at PetCo Park, like many pitchers. He has a 2.15 ERA at PetCo in 10 starts, and Tracy intentionally pushed Cook back to Friday to allow him to start the first game of the series there. Jhoulys Chacin will pitch on normal rest in Thursday’s game.
The Rockies will really need Ubaldo Jimenez to get over the hump and record his 18th win after the Rockies and Jimenez have been unable to record a win in his last three starts.
If the bats can get it going on the road like they have been at home, the Rockies will find themselves in great position to close out the final 26 games of the season in the hunt for the playoffs. But if the bats slump the way they have so far on the road this season, the Rockies could be right back out of contention by the end of the week.
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