The Rockies vs Giants series opened with a simple but meaningful backdrop: both teams entered the last series before the All-Star Break with 38 losses. In a crowded division race at the bottom of the NL West, that made the matchup more than just another midseason series. It also gave the Giants a chance to keep the Rockies from pulling ahead in the standings heading into the break.
On Wednesday, the Giants fell victim to a near no-hitter, a game that underscored how quickly recent starts have gotten away from them. That made Thursday evening’s matchup feel even more important, especially with Carson Whisenhunt scheduled to make his second start of the season against Colorado.
Whisenhunt gets another turn
Whisenhunt was set to take the ball with the Giants looking for a steadier outing. The left-hander’s second start of the season came against a Rockies team that had been described as having a red-hot offense, so the assignment was not an easy one. Still, the opportunity gave San Francisco a chance to settle things down before the break and see what it could get from a young starter in a division game with added weight.
The broader context also mattered. The Giants had been dealing with recent starts that unraveled early, and a quick turnaround against the Rockies offered a chance to avoid another rough opening. In a series between the bottom two teams in the NL West, even one game could help shape which club entered the break in the weaker position.
Why it mattered in the standings
Both the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies were tied in the most basic way possible: each had 38 losses, and each was trying to avoid ending the first half on the wrong note. The Giants’ No. 5 spot in the NL West reflected how tight the situation was at the bottom, with little separation between the division’s last-place clubs.
That is what gave the series its value. It was not only about one pitcher or one game. It was about a direct division matchup before the All-Star Break, with the chance to change the tone for whichever team handled the moment better.
