Pittsburgh @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2014 ) Pittsburgh 1, Colorado 8

Colorado is out of playoff contention after losing 25 of its last 33 games, but manager Walt Weiss will accept nothing less than a full effort as the Rockies continue their three-game series with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday. Third baseman Nolan Arenado, one of the Rockies' rising stars, was removed by Weiss after the fourth inning of Friday's 8-1 victory for not hustling as it appeared he could have beat out a grounder back to the box after pitcher Charlie Morton bobbled it. “... I just felt that Nolan didn’t meet the standard at that point,'' Weiss told the Denver Post. "Now, Nolan’s a great kid. And he’s a great player. That’s how I saw it.”

Pittsburgh remained tied with St. Louis - three games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central and one-half game behind Atlanta for a wild-card berth - after falling to 5-2 since the All-Star break as it continues a stretch of 16 straight contests against NL West teams. Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (.318, 17 homers, 63 RBIs), the 2013 NL MVP, is 6-for-26 with zero homers and two RBIs in seven contests since making his fourth consecutive All-Star game appearance. Pittsburgh's Jeff Locke opposes rookie Tyler Matzek in a rematch of the Pirates' 5-3 victory Sunday, when neither received a decision.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh, Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (2-1, 3.05 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Matzek (1-4, 4.91)

Locke on Sunday yielded three runs and seven hits in six innings to stretch his unbeaten streak to seven outings. The 26-year-old New Hampshire native sports a 2.38 ERA in his last eight turns - all quality starts. Locke has left four of his 10 outings this season with the lead only to be the victim of a blown save.

Matzek on Sunday allowed three runs and seven hits while striking out eight in six innings, and hasn't won in seven starts since winning his major-league debut. ''Tyler did a great job,'' Weiss told reporters of the 23-year-old California native. ''Put us in position (to win) again." Matzek, the 11th overall pick in 2009 by the Rockies, has a 7.27 ERA and struck out only eight covering 17 1/3 innings in his last three turns at home since defeating Atlanta 8-2 on June 11.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies 1B Ben Paulsen has reached base safely at least twice in each of his first four career games - the only other Rockie to accomplish that feat was Todd Helton in 1997.

2. Pirates 2B Neil Walker has reached base safely in a major league-leading 22 straight games after going 1-for-3 with a walk Friday.

3. Arenado (.281, seven homers, 34 RBIs) is hitting .206 in 17 games since missing 37 because of a thumb injury.

PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Rockies 2