Once again, the Colorado Rockies have a chance to get out of the National League West Division cellar. The question becomes: Can they get the job done?

Colorado is two games behind the San Francisco Giants for fourth place in the division. They haven't breathed non-last-place air for most of the 2026 season. It's been a long haul for the Rockies who, despite their record, have shown signs of improvement.

The Rockies and Giants open a three-game series on Friday night at Oracle Park. Colorado is off on Thursday, giving them time to get ready for this series.

Sure, it's late in the season and calling this a big series might be a bit of a stretch. Still, the Rockies can use any good news standings-wise that they can get.

Kyle Freeland is listed as the first game's probable starter for Colorado. He's scheduled to go up against San Francisco's Landen Roupp. Both pitchers come into the game with less-than-stellar records and ERAs. Freeland is 3-10 with a 6.63 ERA, while Roupp is 7-11 with a 4.22 ERA to his name.

Freeland has a complete-game victory in his back pocket over the last three starts, putting together a nifty 3.38 ERA. In that stretch, he's allowed 16 hits, struck out 13, and surrendered just six walks.

Roupp has not been sharp in his last three starts for the Giants, seeing a 6.59 ERA hit the statistics board. He's allowed 12 hits, struck out 10, and walked 10 batters. Those walks can come back to haunt a starter if he's not able to knuckle under and stop them from happening.

Don't expect to see Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros in this series. He's currently on the seven-day concussion Injured List. Karros and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar had a wicked collision on the infield just a couple of days ago. Tovar walked away in good shape, but Karros ended up going into concussion protocol ASAP after the collision.

Things don't get easier for Colorado after the Giants series. The Rockies do come home to Coors Field, which is good news. The bad news? The NL West division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers come to Denver for a three-game series. Los Angeles has been through a stretch of games where they haven't been red hot. 

Maybe the Rockies could pick up a win in that series. Don't be surprised if there is a bit of letdown, though, after Colorado hits the field to battle the Giants.