Upcoming road trip will be true test for Rockies

Sitting at 12-11 after a 4-2 homestand, the Rockies look to be in a good place in the NL West after 23 games, just a game and a half behind the division-leading Dodgers. However, the question for the Rockies is, as always, can they do it on the road?

The Rockies have won all four of their series at Coors Field this season, with an 8-4 record at home, but they are just 4-7 on the road dropping three of four in Miami to open the season and a 3-4 road trip that took them to San Francisco and San Diego.

Now, the Rockies head to a pair of places where they have traditionally struggled, Dodger Stadium and Chase Field. For me, it is a trip where they need to get at least  three wins.

The Rockies did manage a 6-4 record against the NL West champion Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in 2013, and will face neither Clayton Kershaw nor Zack Grienke on this trip to Chavez Ravine. Expecting them to take the series from the Dodgers may be a little much, but the pitching matchups in the first two games, Jordan Lyles against Josh Beckett and Juan Nicasio against Paul Maholm, provide winnable games for the visitors.

Colorado was just 2-8 at Chase Field last season and the Rockies have generally struggled in Arizona throughout  their history, but with how the Diamondbacks have started the season, with a record of 6-18, no less than a series win should be expected. The Rockies will see their old nemesis Wade Miley in the series opener, but games against Brian Bolsinger and Josh Collmenter to close the series present very good chances for wins.

If the Rockies are going to stay above .500 or even contend in 2014, it will require at least some success on the road, a goal toward which the Rockies can take a big step this week.