Talk about a time to make up some more ground in the National League West Division for the Colorado Rockies.

On Monday night, the Rockies open a four-game series at Coors Field against the Miami Marlins. Miami comes into the series opener at 44-40 overall, sitting in third place in the National League East Division.

As for Colorado, the team is in last place in the NL West Division and 33-51 for their record. Entering Monday night's action, the Rockies are 2.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants for fourth place in the NL West.

Why is this series against the Marlins important? If Colorado can come away either with a split series or potentially winning three of the four games, then the Rockies are set up for this weekend's three-game series against the Giants. At Coors Field, too, which gives the Rockies a homefield advantage.

The Giants-Rockies series will be the last one for them and the rest of MLB teams before the All-Star break, leading into the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough and Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer want to make sure their starters in this four-game series will be able to deliver some length and/or solid pitching in every game.

Here's a look at the probable starters for both teams.

Sandy Alcantara vs. TBD, Monday, June 29

Monday night's opener, with a 6:40 p.m. MT first pitch, will feature stellar Miami pitcher Sandy Alcantara against a Colorado starter to be named.

Alcantara sits at 8-4 overall with a 4.01 ERA. Don't let that ERA fool you at all. Alcantara has a history of getting batters out consistently. The Rockies need to jump on Alcantara's pitches early and often in this game.

Kyle Freeland vs. Eury Pérez, Tuesday, June 30

The Rockies send Kyle Freeland out to the mound against the Marlins' Eury Pérez.

Freeland, right now, is 1-7 overall with a 7.50 ERA. Pérez stands at 3-6 with a 4.41 ERA.

In hitter-friendly Coors Field, both pitchers will need to have solid control and be around the strike zone consistently.

Tomoyuki Sugano vs. Max Meyer, Wednesday, July 1

Tomoyuki Sugano gets the call for Schaeffer on Wednesday night. McCullough sends out Max Meyer for the Marlins.

Don't sleep on this matchup because these pitchers have incredible records right now. Meyer is 9-0 with a 2.60 ERA, while Sugano is 8-4 with a 4.80 ERA. Both pitchers will need to have their best pitches working effectively to keep the opposing teams from running up the score.

Michael Loreznen vs. TBD, Thursday, July 2

Lorenzen had a pretty decent outing in his most recent start, so Schaeffer will see if Lorenzen can keep the good times rolling. He's 3-9 this season with a sky-high 6.83 ERA.

As of Monday morning, the Marlins had not named a starter yet for this Thursday afternoon clash at Coors Field.

Monday, June 29

TV: Rockies.TV.

Radio: KOA.

Start time: 6:40 p.m. MT.

Tuesday, June 30

TV: Rockies.TV.

Radio: KOA.

Start time: 6:40 p.m. MT.

Wednesday, July 1

TV: Rockies.TV.

Radio: KOA.

Start time: 6:40 p.m. MT.

Thursday, July 2

TV: Rockies.TV.

Radio: KOA.

Start time: 1:10 p.m. MT.

Rockies Roundtable has its own weekly podcast!

Rockies Rap, which covers the latest data, analytics, and information around the Rockies, is available now on Spotify.

Like and subscribe to Rockies Rap.

Check it out right here on Spotify. 

------

Rockies Roundtable: Click here.

Download Roundtable Sports' app for Android: Click here. 

Download Roundtable Sports' app for Apple: Click here.