With 47 games still remaining in the 2018 regular season, it’s tough to say that the upcoming four-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field is a ‘must-win’ series, but the simple truth is that it is.

Let’s face it, any head-to-head series with a division rival, especially one that is currently only 2.5 games behind them in the NL West standings, could be the difference in making the postseason or not.

Still not convinced that this is a ‘must-win’ series? Consider this:

As the Dodgers prepare to open their four-game series at traditionally unfriendly (and unpredictable) Coors Field, they find themselves in second place 0.5 games behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks who, after an off day on Thursday, open up a three-game weekend series against the NL Central last place Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Taking it one step further, while the Dodgers and Rockies are beating up on each other within the division, the Dodgers are well aware that they have only seven head-to-head games remaining against the Dbacks in the regular season, four at Dodger Stadium August 30 through September 2, and three at Chase Field September 24-26.

In other words, there are still 40 games yet to be played that are not against the Dbacks, during which the Dodgers will need to win and the Dbacks will need to lose in order to catch, pass, and create separation over the Dbacks (and Rockies) in order to win their sixth consecutive NL West division title, thereby guaranteeing themselves a playoff berth.

The bad news is that the Dodgers limp into Coors Field mired in a horrible team-wide slump.

The good news is that aside from a suddenly struggling Kenta Maeda, the Dodgers starting rotation is in relatively good shape and could quite possibly see left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu soon return after having spent more than three months on the disabled list with a severe left groin strain.

The great news is that the Dodgers bullpen appears to be peaking at exactly the right time, especially with the addition of new fan favorite right-hander Dylan Floro, who is 1-0 with a stellar 2.03 ERA in the 12 games in which he has appeared since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on July 4 in exchange for minor league pitchers James Marinan and Aneurys Zabala.

In his 13.1 innings pitched thus far with the Dodgers, the 27-year-old Merced, California native and 13th-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 out of Cal State Fullerton has allowed only three runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out 15.

Fan favorite indeed.

Recently acquired right-hander Dylan Floro appears to be this season’s Brandon Morrow for the Dodgers … we hope. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

With regards to the aforementioned team-wide slump, leading the way are 2018 All-Star outfielder Matt Kemp and 2018 Home Run Derby participant Max Muncy, who are a combined 21-for-116 (.181), with only two home runs apiece – this after Kemp was hitting .353 in May and Muncy slugging a team-leading 22 home runs in the first half.

But Kemp and Muncy aren’t alone in the slumping department. Utility infielder / outfielder Chris Taylor, who is currently sporting a .253 batting average, now leads the National League with his 133 strikeouts. And even though there are signs that 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger is beginning to (finally) be coming around, he enters the four-game set in Colorado with a lackluster .244 batting average, as do Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal with their matching .256 batting averages.

Fortunately, Pederson and Grandal also appear to be heating up, as is unofficial team captain Justin Turner, who had several very good at-bats in the just-concluded two-game series with the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

And then there’s the new guys.

Recently acquired shortstop (and third baseman pro tem) Manny Machado is 21-for-77 (.273) with two home runs since being acquired by the Dodgers during the All-Star break, and second baseman Brian Dozier 7-for-21 (.333) with two home runs since being acquired at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Even though these are certainly small sample sizes, this, along with their very visible enthusiasm and their All-Star / Gold Glove defense cold be the difference in the Dodgers playing into October or not.

Brian Dozier has made an immediate impact since being acquired by the Dodgers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He and fellow newcomer Manny Machado could very well be the difference in the Dodgers making the postseason or not. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

So there you have it – a struggling Dodgers team that is about to embark on a crucial ‘must-win’ four-game series with the very team that is breathing down their necks for a piece of the postseason pie at a stadium that has been less than friendly to them since it opened on April 26, 1995 – excluding Hideo Nomo‘s no-hitter on September 17, 1997, of course.

No problem.