Arizona @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2013 ) Arizona 5, Colorado 1

The Arizona Diamondbacks have taken over first place in the National League West, but whether they have the talent to stay ahead of the San Francisco Giants remains to be seen. If Arizona's starting rotation continues to excel, though, it could beat San Francisco at its own game. The Diamondbacks will try for their sixth victory in seven games when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. Arizona defeated Colorado 5-1 on Monday as Patrick Corbin improved to 7-0 following a three-hitter.

While the rest of Arizona's rotation is 9-13, there have promising performances from those four pitchers lately. Ian Kennedy, coming off his first win since Opening Day, takes the ball for the Diamondbacks. He will oppose Jhoulys Chacin, who has lost his last three starts after three straight victories. The Rockies helped knock the Giants out of first place over the weekend by scoring 31 runs in a four-game series with San Francisco, winning the final three contests, but could not solve Corbin. Colorado has won 11 of its last 28 games after a franchise-best 13-4 start, but sits only two games behind Arizona, with the Giants one behind the Diamondbacks.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, ROOT Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (2-3, 4.88 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.07)

Kennedy was winless in seven starts before breaking through, although it wasn't a very inspiring performance. The 28-year-old allowed three runs, five hits, walked three and struck out seven in five innings in Arizona's 5-3 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday. Kennedy is 3-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 13 starts against Colorado, including 1-2, 3.41 at Coors Field. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are a combined 8-for-45 while Gonzalez has 11 strikeouts in 26 at-bats against Kennedy.

Chacin yielded eight runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings - his worst start of the season - as Colorado blew a six-run lead en route to an 8-6 loss to San Francisco on Thursday. The 25-year-old Venezuelan had an ERA of 1.46 before allowing 16 runs (15 earned) and 25 hits in 17 1/3 innings over his last three starts. Miguel Montero, Gerardo Parra and Cody Ross each have three hits in a combined 47 at-bats against Chacin, while Paul Goldschmidt is 1-for-7.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies RF-1B Michael Cuddyer (neck) said he will be in the lineup Friday when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. Cuddyer will prepare for his return by playing in two extended spring training games in Arizona this week.

2. Arizona 3B Eric Chavez is 11-for-21 with six RBIs in his last six games to raise his average 61 points to .343.

3. Rockies LHP Rex Brothers has pitched 16 straight scoreless innings covering 17 appearances. He has yielded one run in 19 1/3 innings over 21 games.

PREDICTION: Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 2