Colorado @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2016 ) Colorado 1, Pittsburgh 2

The Colorado Rockies will turn to Tyler Chatwood as they continue their nine-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon. Chatwood owns a 4-0 record with a microscopic 0.33 ERA in four starts away from home for Colorado, which has dropped three in a row since winning the opener of the lengthy trek.

Chatwood carries an impressive streak into Saturday's matchup, keeping the opposition scoreless for 21 2/3 innings over his last three road starts. Nolan Arenado supplied the Rockies' only run in Friday's 2-1 loss by belting his major league-leading 14th homer among his three hits. John Jaso is 9-for-18 over the last five games for the Pirates, who have won five of their last six. Left-hander Jonathon Niese will attempt to pitch Pittsburgh to its ninth consecutive victory over Colorado.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (5-3, 3.20 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jonathon Niese (4-2, 5.28)

Chatwood bounced back from a clunker with seven strong innings against the New York Mets on Sunday, permitting three runs in six innings to notch his first victory at home. Since giving up a pair of runs (one earned) in his season debut at Arizona, Chatwood has been nearly unhittable on the road, allowing a total of 10 hits over his scoreless stretch. Chatwood has never faced Pittsburgh, but he's had issues with Jaso, who is 3-for-5 against him.

Niese turned in his best performance in a month in his last start, limiting the Atlanta Braves to two runs on five hits over six innings on Monday. The 29-year-old Niese also turned in a quality start in his previous turn, giving up three runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss at Cincinnati. DJ LeMahieu is 5-for-12 against Niese, who is 3-3 with a 5.64 ERA and 12 home runs surrendered in 60 2/3 innings versus the Rockies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon has hit in four straight and 15 of 16 games.

2. Pirates SS Jordy Mercer is riding a six-game hitting streak.

3. Rockies RF Carlos Gonzalez is hitless in 15 at-bats over the past four games.

PREDICTION: Rockies 4, Pirates 2