Arizona @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2010 ) Arizona 3, Colorado 4

It was just a small sampling, but nonetheless it wasn’t pretty. The Arizona Diamondbacks went 1-5 on their first road trip of the season while losing ground to the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. It’s where the first crack in the foundation of the bullpen showed up. After winning a series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Diamondbacks take off on one their longest road trips of the season, starting against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. From there, Arizona heads to Chicago for a four-game stint against the Cubs before moving on to face the Houston Astros. At least this trip begins with the bullpen getting some of its confidence back after a decent series against the Phillies’ strong lineup. Ace right-hander Dan Haren takes the mound on Monday against the Rockies, who have a 6-3 home record. The lineup, with two of its regulars on the disabled list in left fielder Conor Jackson and catcher Miguel Montero, contains two of the game’s hottest hitters. Second baseman Kelly Johnson, a free-agent acquisition, is 4-for-11 with four home runs and six RBIs. Third baseman Mark Reynolds has been just as hot, but for an even longer period – going 11-for-23 with four home runs and 13 RBIs. That kind of production is usually all that Haren needs, but in two of his four starts, the former All-Star has surrendered five earned runs or more - including seven in his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. Haren (2-1, 5.19 ERA) will be opposed by right-hander Jason Hammel, who is coming off his best start of the young season. Hammel (0-1, 8.04 ERA) allowed three earned runs in seven innings for a no decision against the Atlanta Braves. It was far better than his previous start when he was knocked out of the box after just 1 2/3 innings in which he allowed seven earned. The Rockies are playing with heavy hearts. They posted a victory over Florida just a few hours after services at the ballpark for team president Keli McGregor, 48, who died Tuesday in a Salt Lake City hotel by natural causes. The offense has been pretty solid to start the season as five regulars are still over .300 - including a team best .357 by outfielder Brad Hawpe, but he was placed on the disabled list Sunday with a left quadriceps injury. The power has come from catcher Miguel Olivo, who has five home runs and a .317 average, while Seth Smith and Ian Stewart each having four long balls.