Colorado @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2014 ) Colorado 3, San Francisco 2

Madison Bumgarner looks to continue an impressive August when he leads the San Francisco Giants into the second of four straight games with visiting Colorado on Tuesday. After ending July with a rocky showing against Pittsburgh in which he gave up five runs in four innings, the lefty has posted a 2.03 ERA in four starts this month. Included in that run was a strong effort against Philadelphia on Aug. 15 at home, where he has struggled for much of the season, going 4-6 with a 5.17 ERA overall.

Bumgarner could use another solid home start in order to help San Francisco put its current slide to an end. The Giants dropped the series opener 3-2 and have lost three in a row overall, which has reduced their lead in the race for the National League's second wild-card spot to one-half game over Atlanta. San Francisco, which committed a season high-tying four errors in Monday's opener, has lost four straight home games against Colorado.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Rockies), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jorge De La Rosa (13-8, 4.21 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 3.17)

Seven of De La Rosa's last nine starts have been quality starts and he lasted eight innings for the first time this year in a win over Kansas City on Wednesday. He let up two runs and five hits in that contest, which gave him a solid 3.20 ERA since July began. De La Rosa has a 5.28 ERA in four starts against San Francisco this season but is 9-5 in his career versus the Giants.

Bumgarner has struck out 36 and walked only two in his four-start surge this month, including a season-high 12 strikeouts in seven frames against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. He did serve up two home runs in that contest, tying a season high, and has given up at least one long ball in three straight starts for the first time in 2014. The two-time All-Star has surrendered five homers in four starts this season against Colorado, during which he is 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies RF Charlie Blackmon is 16-for-41 with 11 runs scored in 12 games against San Francisco this year.

2. Colorado IF Josh Rutledge is 7-for-18 with a home run, a triple and a double against Bumgarner.

3. San Francisco is 10-24 in its last 34 home games.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Rockies 3