Are the Colorado Rockies’ hopes of playoff glory later this year already over? That’s the feeling you get after reading a series of glum articles in The Denver Post, including one chronicling the Rockies’ 6-2 home loss to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates—the Rockies’ eighth loss in a row.

“It goes without saying that we are struggling terribly,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy says.

Once a favorite in the National League West, the Rockies sit six-and-a-half games behind the wild-card chasing Giants. And when it comes to trades, it seems the Rockies might now be sellers rather than buyers, but at least there won’t be a housecleaning. Still, reliever Joe Beimel could move, along with some others.

As for Todd Helton, the 36-year-old first baseman spent a week strengthening his core and running on a treadmill as part of rehabbing his hamstring injury with the Casper Ghosts in Wyoming.

The plan is for him to play several games for Casper over the weekend, and then, depending on how he feels, Helton (pictured) will either play for the Ghosts on Monday or return to Denver to be re-evaluated.