San Francisco @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2016 ) Colorado 2, San Francisco 0

The San Francisco Giants look to remain the hottest team in baseball as they seek their 14th victory in 15 contests when they open a three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Friday. The Giants' impressive run has allowed them to open a 4 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, and they aim to continue the success on a 10-game road trip that begins in Denver.

San Francisco has won its last five games, with the most recent victory being Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning triumph over San Diego - its major league-leading fifth walk-off win of the season. "When you're going well, these games tend to go in your favor," Giants third baseman Matt Duffy told reporters. "A big reason they go in our favor is we're playing good baseball, for the most part - making the routine plays, making the other team beat themselves. They're a ton of fun, which is a big thing." Colorado has won just two of its last eight games after rolling to an 8-2 victory in Boston on Thursday. Dustin Garneau, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story each hit a two-run homer as the Rockies ended a stretch in which they scored three or fewer runs in six of their previous eight contests.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, NBC Bay Area (San Francisco), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (1-5, 5.37 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (5-3, 3.02)

Cain was winless through his first eight starts before beating the Chicago Cubs in his last turn, when he gave up one run and six hits in six innings. He got off to a rocky start this season by allowing six runs in three of his first six outings but has posted a superb 1.71 ERA over his last three turns. Two of the poor outings came in losses to the Rockies (14 runs - 12 earned - in 8 2/3 innings) as he dropped to 17-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 37 career starts against Colorado.

Chatwood allowed one run and six hits over six innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh in his last turn to mark the fifth time in nine starts he has given up fewer than two earned runs. All of the stellar outings came on the road as he is 1-3 with a porous 6.65 ERA in four starts at Coors Field. Chatwood lost at home to the Giants on April 12, when he surrendered five runs and 11 hits in six frames to fall to 3-3 with a 4.00 ERA in nine career outings (eight starts) against San Francisco.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gonzalez is 8-for-16 over his last four games but just 8-for-52 lifetime versus Cain.

2. Giants 1B Brandon Belt (ankle) is questionable after leaving Wednesday's victory over San Diego.

3. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado is just 1-for-20 over his last five contests and has homered just once in 12 games.

PREDICTION: Giants 9, Rockies 5