Cincinnati @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2010 ) Cincinnati 3, Colorado 4
Carlos Gonzalez is chasing the Triple Crown with as much intensity as the Colorado Rockies are chasing a postseason berth.
If the former continues his hot streak, the latter may very well find themselves in the playoffs.
The Rockies (74-64) will vie for their sixth straight win on Wednesday when they continue their four-game series against the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds (79-59) at Coors Field.
Colorado is both 4 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading San Diego Padres (78-59) and the same distance behind the wild-card leading Atlanta Braves (79-60).
For its part, Cincinnati has dropped three in a row to see its lead in the NL Central trimmed to six games over the St. Louis Cardinals (72-64).
The Reds can thank Gonzalez for their troubles.
Gonzalez belted a three-run homer and Jhoulys Chacin tossed six strong innings as the Rockies recorded a 4-3 triumph over the Reds on Tuesday.
A Triple Crown contender, Gonzalez has ridden his career-high 15-game hitting streak to a National League-best .340 batting average and 100 RBIs. The 24-year-old Venezuelan also has 32 home runs on the season - three behind Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols.
Gonzalez will try his luck against Bronson Arroyo (14-9, 3.84 ERA), who is trying to stop a modest two-game losing skid.
The 33-year-old right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to suffer the loss in a 3-2 setback to the Cardinals on Friday.
Colorado will counter with Aaron Cooke (5-8, 5.21 ERA), who snapped a three-game losing skid with a solid effort in his last outing.
The 31-year-old right-hander permitted two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Padres on Friday. Not too shabby, considering he was activated from the disabled list just hours before the start.
Cooke has also enjoyed considerable success against the Reds, posting a 3-0 career mark with a 3.29 ERA.
Cincinnati has its own Triple Crown contender in Joey Votto, who is batting .321 with 32 home runs and 98 RBIs. He is 2-for-6 in the first two contests of this set.
As for players who are slowly working their way back to the diamond, Reds outfielder Jay Bruce and Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis did some light exercises on Tuesday.
Bruce, who is dealing with a right side strain, took 50 swings in the indoor batting cage - and has some batting practice in his immediate future.
For his part, Francis threw a light bullpen session. The ninth overall pick of the 2002 draft, Francis is one the disabled list with left shoulder soreness.