Rockies-Giants series preview: battle for last place continues
The Rockies-Giants series at Oracle Park decides bragging rights and who avoids last place in the NL West. San Francisco (38-54) leads Colorado (38-56) by one game, but the Rockies have won both prior 2026 meetings in Denver and outscored the Giants 48-43 across six matchups.
Key Takeaways
- The Giants and Rockies enter tied near the bottom of the NL West, separated by just one game in the race to avoid last place.
- Manager Tony Vitello called San Francisco's 10-0 loss to Toronto a "low point" before this homestand.
- Carson Whisenhunt is expected to start the opener against Ryan Feltner, who has won both prior starts against San Francisco this season.
- Colorado has won five of its past eight games and arrives with a hot offense, while the Giants are playing largely for pride before the All-Star break.
- Colorado is 6-33 at Oracle Park since 2021, though the Rockies have momentum after taking two of three from San Francisco at Coors Field last week.
Why does this Rockies-Giants series matter?
Both clubs entered July fighting for something no franchise wants: sole possession of last place in the National League West. The Giants were expected to compete in 2026, yet they sit 38-54 and just one game ahead of Colorado's 38-56 mark, according to McCovey Chronicles.
This is the third Rockies-Giants meeting of the season and the first at Oracle Park. Colorado won each of the first two series in Denver, taking two of three in May and two of three again last week. The stakes are less about the pennant race and more about pride, momentum, and who finishes the first half with the least embarrassment.
What happened before San Francisco opened at home?
The Giants hoped a stretch of 10 consecutive games against sub-.500 teams before the All-Star break would lift them in the standings. Instead, they lost two of three in Denver and then dropped two of three to Toronto, including a 10-0 shutout on Wednesday.
Manager Tony Vitello labeled that defeat a "low point," citing defensive lapses, poor pitching execution, and a silent offense. Toronto's Dylan Cease carried a no-hitter into the ninth before Heliot Ramos singled, but San Francisco trailed 5-0 before its first at-bat and committed three infield errors. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer later homered to deepen the wound.
Who starts the opener and what lineups are in play?
Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (1-0, 3.60 ERA) is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Sacramento for his second start of 2026, giving veteran Robbie Ray an extra day of rest. He faces Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner (3-2, 4.27), who has won both starts against San Francisco this year with 23 runs of support and has allowed no more than two earned runs in three of his past four outings.
Sports Illustrated reported San Francisco's Thursday lineup featured Heliot Ramos, Luis Arraez, Casey Schmitt, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Bryce Eldridge, Victor Bericoto, Drew Gilbert, and Drew Cavanaugh, with Jung Hoo Lee and Eric Haase on the bench. Lee had hit under .175 over the past week, making his bench role unsurprising.
Can the Giants avoid last place against a surging Rockies team?
Colorado catcher Braxton Fulford told reporters the Rockies are "a bunch of grinders" who "punch you in the mouth late in the game." The club has won five of its past eight games and brings a red-hot offense into Oracle Park, where Colorado is 6-33 since the start of 2021.
McCovey Chronicles noted Colorado's offensive process improvements, while also highlighting Jake McCarthy's career .856 OPS against San Francisco. For the Giants, the path forward may depend on early run prevention after recent games got away in the first inning. As this Future Tech & AI Wonders season-long subplot shows, even rebuilding clubs can reshape expectations through smarter front-office decisions.
When the four-game set ends Sunday, San Francisco could either slip into sole last place or reach 40 wins — one of the few modest milestones left in a disappointing year. For now, the Rockies and Giants are playing for bragging rights in a battle neither team wanted.