Colorado @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2013 ) Colorado 7, LA Dodgers 6

After a hot start, the Colorado Rockies have come back to the pack in the National League West, and the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to make up more ground when the slumping Rockies visit for a three-game set starting Monday. The Rockies dropped three of four at Arizona over the weekend and have dropped six of eight overall to allow the Diamondbacks to catch them atop the division.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have won five of their last seven to climb back to .500 after a 2-0 win over Milwaukee on Sunday. Los Angeles also could get shortstop Hanley Ramirez back from thumb surgery as soon as this week. The Rockies, however, could lose their shortstop for a period. Troy Tulowitzki left Sunday's game with a strained left shoulder after an awkward slide at the plate. He is listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated Monday.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (0-0, 6.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (0-0, 1.80)

The 23-year-old Chatwood made his first big-league start of the season Wednesday against Atlanta and allowed five runs (four earned) over six innings. He struggled a bit with his command but kept the Rockies in the game. Chatwood is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers.

Lilly returned from the disabled list to make his first start since last May on Wednesday against the New York Mets, and he gave the Dodgers a solid outing. The veteran went five innings and allowed one run on six hits with seven strikeouts. Lilly has fared well against the Rockies, going 10-2 with a 3.92 ERA in 14 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 2B Mark Ellis has missed the past two games with a strained right quadriceps but hopes to avoid a trip to the DL. Ellis is hitting .342 and riding a six-game hitting streak.

2. Dodgers RF Andre Ethier is 4-for-9 with two doubles against Chatwood, and CF Matt Kemp is 3-for-6 with a homer against him.

3. The one Colorado player who has given Lilly fits is LF Carlos Gonzalez, who is 8-for-20 with five home runs against him.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Rockies 4