Colorado @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2013 ) Colorado 2, Pittsburgh 5

Pittsburgh's A.J. Burnett continues his frustrating season when the Pirates host the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in the finale of their three-game series. The 36-year-old right-hander fashions a 2.86 ERA - his lowest mark for a season is 3.30 - but has twice as many no-decisions (eight) as victories. Pittsburgh, which has mustered nine runs in Burnett's seven losses, snapped a two-game slide when it scored in five consecutive innings in its 5-2 victory over Colorado on Saturday.

The Pirates have the best record in baseball at 66-44 and the lowest ERA in the major leagues at 3.09 while leading the National League Central by 1 1/2 games over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rockies, 6-10 since the All-Star break, are 1-5 on their 10-game road trip and 9 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Colorado gives the ball to Juan Nicasio, whose run of success since being recalled from the minors came to a halt in his last start.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado, Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (6-5, 4.92 ERA) vs. Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (4-7, 2.86)

Nicasio yielded a career-high eight runs and allowed 10 hits - two homers - in four innings of an 11-3 loss at Atlanta on Monday. The 26-year-old was 2-0 in three starts - allowing one run in 19 frames - in his previous three starts after returning from a demotion to Triple-A Colorado. No player on the Pirates' roster has recorded more than three at-bats against Nicasio, who permitted one run in 6 2/3 innings and earned a no-decision last season in his only start against them.

Burnett allowed one run and three hits over seven innings in Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory over St. Louis on Friday but didn't figure in the decision. He is 0-1 with a 1.78 ERA in his last five starts after missing nearly a month with a calf injury and 2-3 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 78 in 65 1/3 innings (10 starts) at home. Burnett is 2-3 with a 2.90 ERA in five outings against the Rockies, while Colorado's roster is batting .193 in 57 at-bats against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Colorado's Michael Cuddyer, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games for personal reasons, is 3-for-24 with a homer and eight strikeouts against Burnett. Cuddyer is third in the NL with a .328 batting average.

2. Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez, second in the NL with 26 home runs, is expected to return the lineup after missing three straight starts because of an injured right middle finger. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez leads the league with 27 homers.

3. The Rockies are 76-24 when SS Troy Tulowitzki and 1B Todd Helton record at least one RBI apiece.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Rockies 2