Arizona @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Arizona 3, Colorado 4

The Colorado Rockies are off to their best start in franchise history after 17 games, which includes victories in both Sunday contests. The Rockies were an eye-popping 11-41 on the Sabbath over the previous two seasons, including a modern-day record 17 straight losses in 2011. Colorado tries to continue its seventh-day turnaround - and improve to 9-0 at home - when it goes for its ninth straight victory and a three-game sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies didn't help themselves by regularly resting starters following a night game, which led to many inferior lineups. Management, though, decided to start Sunday home games one our later - 2:10 p.m. local time - this season in an effort to give its players more rest. Arizona has lost four of its first five on its nine-game road trip and has struggled against the Rockies' much-improved pitching staff with four runs in the first two games following Saturday's 4-3 loss.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, ROOT Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Brandon McCarthy (0-2, 7.47 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (2-0, 5.63)

McCarthy has yielded a whopping 28 hits in 15 2/3 innings in his first three starts with Arizona, including nine in four innings in a 4-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Glendale, Calif., native has allowed fewer runs in each successive start, but has a 2.04 WHIP and a 3.84 batting average against. McCarthy has never faced the Rockies, but handled Michael Cuddyer well (3-for-17, four strikeouts) during their days in the American League.

The Rockies will need all their starters to pitch to their potential if they are to challenge in the National League West this season, and Nicasio is no exception. After allowing two runs in six innings in his season opener - a 7-3 victory at Milwaukee on April 3 - the 26-year-old Dominican Republic native has yielded four runs in each of his last two starts. Nicasio is 0-0 with an 8.59 ERA in two starts against Arizona, but hasn't faced any of its batters more than six times.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies have won a franchise-record 12 straight home games dating back to last season.

2. Colorado leads the major leagues with 100 runs scored and is second with 27 homers behind Atlanta's 29.

3. Rockies RHP Jhoulys Chacin (3-0), who left Friday's game after 6 1/3 innings because of a back injury, is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday.

PREDICTION: Rockies 13, Diamondbacks 11