Colorado @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 22, 2013 ) San Francisco 11, Colorado 6

The Colorado Rockies carry a five-game winning streak into Monday’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants, who went 14-4 against the Rockies last season. After being dismissed as a contender in the preseason, Colorado enjoyed a surprising first week of the season behind its potent offense. The Rockies are off to their best start since 1995, and center fielder Dexter Fowler has four homers in the first six games.

While Colorado leads the league in several offensive categories, San Francisco is struggling to score runs. The Giants, who lost 14-3 against St. Louis on Sunday, have scored 15 runs through six games and are 5-for-30 with runners in scoring position. Second baseman Marco Scutaro has two hits in his first 23 at-bats, and first baseman Brandon Belt is off to a 1-for-14 start. Only San Francisco’s outstanding starting rotation has allowed the Giants to split its first six games.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Comcast SportsNet-Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jorge De La Rosa (0-0, 8.31 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

De La Rosa has enjoyed some success against the Giants over the years, going 7-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 career games (12 starts). Colorado is 11-4 against San Francisco when he takes the mound. De La Rosa, who allowed four runs on five hits against the Brewers last Tuesday, is 3-2 with a 2.58 ERA in eight career appearances at AT&T Park. Pablo Sandoval is 5-for-22 (.227) with one home run against De La Rosa, who hasn’t pitched more than 60 innings in a season since 2010 because of various injuries.

Bumgarner is coming off a stellar first outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Tuesday, when he tossed eight scoreless innings and allowed two hits with no walks. “That’s the best I’ve felt in a long time,” he told reporters. The 23-year-old Bumgarner is 5-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rockies, and he owns the second-lowest ERA against Colorado among any active pitcher. Carlos Gonzalez is 8-for-22 (.364) with two homers against Bumgarner, who went 3-0 with a 2.39 ERA in four starts against the Rockies last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies were 2-7 against the Giants at AT&T Park last season.

2. Giants C Buster Posey, the reigning National League MVP, has four hits in his first 20 at-bats.

3. Colorado RF Michael Cuddyer sat out Sunday’s 9-1 win over San Diego because of a sore left wrist, but he could return for Monday’s series opener.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Rockies 3