Colorado @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 9, Colorado 6

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best record in the majors and welcome the sinking Colorado Rockies to town on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. Pittsburgh was routed 13-0 by St. Louis on Thursday but overtook the Cardinals for first place in the National League Central by winning the first four contests of the rare five-game series. Colorado, which was outscored 40-13 to suffer a four-game sweep against Atlanta, has lost eight of 11 games.

The Rockies are a season-worst eight games below .500 and manager Walt Weiss said that star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez could be headed to the disabled list. Gonzalez, who has 26 homers, has been dealing with an ailing right middle finger for more than three weeks and the injury is affecting the way he grips the bat. Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who has an NL-leading 27 homers, has gone deep six times in 71 career at-bats against Colorado pitching.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado, Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jhoulys Chacin (9-5, 3.54 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (5-4, 3.56)

Chacin is 1-2 over his last four starts despite allowing only eight runs during the stretch. He allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his last outing. Chacin is 1-3 with a 6.97 ERA in four career starts against Pittsburgh.

Cole has lost four of his last five starts after beginning his major-league career with four consecutive victories. He hasn’t given up more than three runs in any of his outings and has issued just 12 walks in 55 2/3 innings. Cole has pitched seven innings in three of his four starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates C Russell Martin (knee) sat out Thursday’s game but could be in the lineup for the series opener.

2. Colorado OF Michael Cuddyer missed the finale of the Atlanta series due to family reasons. It is unclear if he will play on Friday.

3. Pittsburgh 1B Garrett Jones is 5-for-9 with two homers against Chacin.

PREDICTION: Pirates 8, Rockies 1