The Colorado Rockies became the first Major League Baseball team to be eliminated from the fight for the postseason this year. Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped them to 37-94, a record that mathematically prevents them from catching their rivals in the fight for a wild-card spot in the National League.

The elimination came early compared to other franchises, but it didn't take anyone by surprise. Colorado is in last place in the West Division and is 37.5 games behind the San Diego Padres, the region's leaders.

A season marked by consecutive losses

Sunday's game reflected the team's difficult season. Pirates starter Paul Skenes limited the Rockies offense to just three hits in seven innings, with seven strikeouts. His performance completed a three-game sweep and handed Colorado its fourth straight loss.

Prior to that series, the Rockies had shown signs of improvement with wins over the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks, and also split a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, that brief surge wasn't enough to stave off the inevitable.

The overall picture in the National League is very different from the one facing Colorado. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the Central at 81-49, while the Philadelphia Phillies dominate the East at 75-54. In the West, the Padres lead at 74-56. The wild-card spots are held by the Chicago Cubs (75-55), the Los Angeles Dodgers (73-57), and the New York Mets (69-60). Behind them, the Cincinnati Reds still have a chance with 67 wins.

The Rockies, on the other hand, had a combined record of 1-11 against the Mets and Reds, direct rivals for the playoffs. That figure ultimately sealed their chances.

Avoiding a Historic Season in the Downside

Beyond elimination, the team is still looking to escape an unwanted record. In 2024, the Chicago White Sox set a modern record with 121 losses. Colorado needs at least five wins in its remaining 31 games to avoid matching or surpassing that number.

It didn't always seem possible. The club didn't reach its 10th win until June 2, when it was already 9-50. During that time, the front office fired manager Bud Black after a 7-33 start. Still, the changes didn't alter the fortunes of a franchise that now extends its playoff absence to seven seasons.