As September arrives, the Colorado Rockies face a stretch of meaningful games despite being out of postseason contention. All eyes are on how far the team's rebuilding effort has progressed this season, as the franchise has embraced the mantra of "here for the climb" while working toward a future where September play leads to a postseason berth. That future, however, is not yet here. Without a postseason spot on the line, the final month still carries real stakes for a franchise that has plenty of questions to answer before the final pitch of the 2026 season is thrown.
The most immediate question is whether the team can avoid triple-digit losses. After a 2-1 loss in Atlanta on Saturday, the Rockies had 26 games remaining in the regular season — two in August and 24 in September — and sat at 52-84, meaning they must win 11 of those games to avoid 100 losses for the fourth consecutive season. Colorado opens a six-game homestand Monday with Baltimore and St. Louis coming to town, part of a home-heavy finish that includes 15 September games at 20th and Blake. The nine road games this month will all come against teams still fighting for the postseason, as Colorado visits Detroit, the Bronx to face the Yankees, and the South Side of Chicago to meet the White Sox. Colorado is 27-38 at home this season and has been outscored 408-327 at Coors Field.
Beyond the win total, individual player performance is also under the microscope. Drafted with the 38th overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, outfielder Jordan Beck has had a disappointing season marked by injuries and time at Triple-A, tallying just 128 at-bats and batting .203 with one home run. Beck has shown some recent flashes, hitting .333 over his last 18 at-bats, though he has also struck out in eight of those chances. With several outfield options and prospect Charlie Condon expected to make an impact in 2027, September represents the 25-year-old's chance to prove his place on the roster.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is another player trying to close the season on a high note. After a strong showing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Tovar's regular-season performance dropped sharply, with his overall batting average sitting at .209 and hampered by a .145 showing across 21 July games. August brought improvement, with Tovar batting .295 and posting a .791 OPS — both highs for any month this season for the 25-year-old. Tovar remains widely regarded as a key piece of Colorado's future and is signed through the 2030 season.
Starting pitching management also looms as a central issue. Veteran starters Jose Quintana and Kyle Freeland, currently sidelined with injuries, are expected to return in September and could factor into the rotation. The question is whether the Rockies would benefit more from giving extended looks to younger starters like Mason Adams and Gabriel Hughes heading into 2027. Starter Ryan Feltner's role is also uncertain after he posted an 8.91 ERA over his last seven starts. Tomoyuki Sugano, who has arguably been Colorado's best starter this season, will look to cement a return to Colorado in 2027 with a strong September showing.
How the Rockies allocate innings among veteran and young starters over the final 24 games of September will be closely watched as an indicator of the team's 2027 rotation plans.