Milwaukee @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2013 ) Milwaukee 3, Colorado 8

The Colorado Rockies have gotten little out of the No. 5 spot in their starting rotation and will turn to rookie Collin McHugh when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. McHugh takes the spot of Drew Pomeranz, who lost all four of his major-league starts before being placed on the disabled list with left bicep tendinitis. The Rockies tried filling their rotation previously with veteran Roy Oswalt, who lost all four of his starts before suffering a hamstring injury in his fifth outing.

Colorado snapped out its offensive funk with an 8-3 victory over Milwaukee on Friday after scoring eight runs in its previous four games and recording a National League-low 58 in its first 20 July contests. A pitcher provided the biggest blow Friday, when Tyler Chatwood delivered a two-run double and raised his average to .345 by going 2-for-2. The Brewers lost for the third time in four games since Ryan Braun was banned for the rest of the season for using performance-enhancing drugs.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Tom Gorzelanny (1-4, 2.47 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Collin McHugh (NR)

Gorzelanny has made four starts in 36 games this season, including his last three appearances in which Milwaukee scored a total of five runs. The 31-year-old allowed five runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 5-3 loss to San Diego on Monday but yielded four runs (none earned) and struck out 12 in 12 frames over his previous two starts. Gorzelanny faced Colorado in relief during the the second and third games of the season and allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings.

McHugh pitched 28 1/3 innings in parts of two seasons with the New York Mets before being acquired for outfielder Eric Young Jr. on June 18. The 26-year-old is 0-5 in 11 games - 0-4 in five starts - with an 8.26 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and .336 batting average against. McHugh earned his chance to help solidify the rotation by going 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA and striking out 16 in 17 innings over three starts with Triple-A Colorado Springs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez, who is tied for the National League lead with 26 home runs, missed Friday's game with a sprained right middle finger and is day-to-day. Gonzalez suffered the injury July 7 in Arizona and missed the next two games before leaving Thursday's contest after aggravating it during his first at-bat.

2. Colorado starters are 8-5 with a 2.08 ERA in their last 15 games.

3. Milwaukee is 36-0 when leading after eight innings this season, making it the only team in the major leagues without a loss.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Rockies 2