Who Loses Best? Giants-Rockies Series Preview
Giants vs. Rockies: The Battle to Avoid Last Place (And Why It’s Closer Than You Think)
The Big Picture: Two Teams Struggling Down the Stretch
Important Context: Both the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies are having rough seasons. They’re currently fighting to avoid finishing with the worst record in the National League West division.
- Giants Record: 50 wins – 71 losses
- Rockies Record: 48 wins – 73 losses
- Current Standing: Rockies are 9th worst in MLB; Giants are 10th worst (meaning the Giants are slightly “better” right now)
The big question: Will the Rockies finish with a worse record than the Giants? It’s not a sure thing—and here’s why.
Why the “Easy Schedule” for Colorado Is Actually a Trap
You might see articles saying the Rockies have an “easy” remaining schedule. Don’t believe it. Here’s the catch:
The “Easy” Opponents Are Actually Good Right Now
The Rockies still have to play:
- Seattle Mariners (3 games) – Near a Wild Card spot
- Baltimore Orioles (3 games) – Near a Wild Card spot
- Cleveland Guardians (3 games) – Near a Wild Card spot
- Detroit Tigers (3 games) – Leading the AL Central (already a playoff team)
ELI5 Explanation: Wild Card = A playoff spot for teams that didn’t win their division but still have one of the best records. These teams are playing hard to make the playoffs—they won’t take it easy on Colorado.
Colorado’s Roster Got Weaker at the Trade Deadline
The Rockies traded away three players who actually helped them compete:
| Player Traded | Where They Went | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Brenton Doyle (OF) | Chicago White Sox | Had a .701 OPS vs. Giants (hit them well) |
| Antonio Senzatela (P) | Milwaukee Brewers | 6-4, 4.93 ERA lifetime vs. Giants; knew how to pitch to them |
| Victor Vodnik (RP) | Miami Marlins | 14 strikeouts in 15 innings vs. Giants; 2-0 record |
What They Got Back: Connor Norby
- From: Miami Marlins (in the Vodnik trade)
- Stats vs. Giants: 0-for-5 recently; .208/.250/.354 in 52 career plate appearances
- Silver Lining: 2 home runs in 8 games at Oracle Park (.233/.294/.433 in 34 PA)
Bottom Line: The Rockies subtracted proven MLB players and added a guy who hasn’t hit yet. That usually means more losses coming.
Who’s Actually Hitting for Colorado Lately?
Since July 1st, these Rockies have been their best hitters (measured by wRC+ — 100 = league average):
| Player | wRC+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter Goodman | 128 | 28% better than average |
| Kyle Karros | 123 | Currently hurt (concussion) |
| Jake McCarthy | 122 | Solid contributor |
| Cole Carrigg | 121 | Young player stepping up |
| Mickey Moniak | 108 | 6 HR in last 32 games, but strikes out a lot (26.2%) |
Fun Fact: The Rockies just gave Moniak a 2-year, $16.25 million extension—so they believe in him.
Kyle Freeland: The Familiar Face on the Mound
- 33-year-old lefty, been a Rockie his whole career
- Almost got traded at the deadline—stayed put
- vs. Giants Career: 8–10, 4.41 ERA in 153 innings
- At Oracle Park: 2–6, 3.84 ERA in 12 starts (pitches better in SF than his overall numbers)
He’s making his 30th career start vs. the Giants this series. He knows them. They know him.
Logan Webb: The Giants’ Ace Is Back (Maybe)
Logan Webb has been a rollercoaster this year. Look at his monthly ERA:
| Month | Record | ERA | Starts | Innings | K:BB Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March/April | 2–3 | 4.30 | 7 | 44 | 2.53 |
| May | 0–1 | 7.56 | 2 | 8.1 | 3.00 |
| June | 3–1 | 0.71 | 5 | 38 | 7.25 |
| July | 1–2 | 6.59 | 5 | 28.2 | 2.13 |
| August | 1–0 | 0.64 | 2 | 14 | 5.00 |
What This Means: When Webb is on, he’s unhittable (0.71 ERA in June, 0.64 in August). When he’s off, he gets crushed. Saturday’s game is his start—huge for the Giants.
The Rest of the Giants’ Lineup: Quiet Lately
Since August 1st, only three Giants hitters are at or above league average (100 wRC+):
- Osleivis Basabe – 112 wRC+
- Rafael Devers – 107 wRC+
- Jung Hoo Lee – 100 wRC+ (exactly average)
New faces joining the roster: Jonah Cox and Victor Bericoto—watch for playing time.
Series Details: When & Where to Watch
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Who | San Francisco Giants (50–71) vs. Colorado Rockies (48–73) |
| Where | Oracle Park, San Francisco, California |
| When | Fri 7:15 PM PT • Sat 1:05 PM PT • Sun 1:05 PM PT |
| TV | No national broadcasts (local only) |
Projected Starting Pitchers: A Mismatch on Paper
| Game | Giants Starter | Rockies Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Landen Roupp (RHP, 7–11, 4.22 ERA) | Kyle Freeland (LHP, 3–10, 6.63 ERA) |
| Saturday | Logan Webb (RHP, 7–7, 3.59 ERA) | Michael Lorenzen (RHP, 3–10, 6.83 ERA) |
| Sunday | Blade Tidwell (RHP, 0–0, 2.78 ERA) | Gabriel Hughes (RHP, 0–4, 5.61 ERA) |
Key Takeaway: The Giants have the better starter in every single game. Freeland, Lorenzen, and Hughes all have ERAs above 5.60. Webb is the only pitcher here with an ERA under 4.00.
The Prediction: Giants Lose 2 of 3 (Wait, What?)
Author’s Call: “The Giants… hmm… they will… lose 2 out of 3.”
Why would the better pitching staff lose the series?
- Giants offense has gone cold (only 3 above-average hitters in August)
- Rockies’ young hitters (Goodman, Carrigg, Moniak) are swinging hot bats
- Weird things happen in division games at the end of bad seasons
- Giants’ bullpen is exhausted (outside of Webb, innings are piling up on young arms)
Summary: What You Need to Know
- Both teams are bad, but the Rockies are slightly worse right now (48–73 vs. 50–71).
- Rockies’ schedule looks easy but isn’t—their opponents are playoff-hungry.
- Colorado weakened itself at the deadline—traded 3 useful players for 1 unproven hitter.
- Logan Webb is the best pitcher in the series by far—he’s dealing in August.
- Giants have better starters in all 3 games, but their offense is ice-cold.
- Prediction: Rockies take 2 of 3 at Oracle Park—because baseball is weird.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Why does wRC+ matter? Isn’t batting average enough?
Nope. wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) adjusts for ballpark and league average. 100 = average. 120 = 20% better. It’s the best single stat for “how good is this hitter really?”
What’s a “K:BB ratio” and why do you keep showing it?
Strikeout-to-Walk ratio. Higher = better control. Webb’s 7.25 in June means 7 strikeouts for every 1 walk—elite command. 2.13 in July? Not great.
If the Giants have better pitchers, why predict they lose?
Pitching wins games, but you still need runs. The Giants’ lineup has 1–2 good hitters right now. The Rockies have 4–5 hot hitters. In a 3-game series, variance rules.
Who are Jonah Cox and Victor Bericoto?
Prospects/young players just called up. Cox is an outfielder with speed; Bericoto has power. They’ll get at-bats because the season is basically over—might as well look at the future.
Does this series matter for the draft?
Yes! Worse record = higher draft pick. If the Giants sweep, they risk picking lower. If they lose 2 of 3, they stay ahead of Colorado in the “race to the bottom”—which is good for 2025 talent.
Enjoy the series—and remember: in a lost season, the only real wins are watching the kids play and hoping your ace stays healthy.