Colorado @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 10, 2007 ) Colorado 6, Baltimore 1

The Colorado Rockies and host Baltimore Orioles meet for the first time in over six years when they begin a three-game interleague series on Friday. The Orioles are coming off a 4-4 road trip that featured visits to three of the Rockies' divisional opponents. Baltimore dropped the final three games of the excursion, including an 11-inning affair on Tuesday and a 14-inning contest Wednesday, making the day off Thursday a much-needed one.

The Orioles entered Thursday 2 1/2 games behind Oakland in the race for the second wild-card spot in the American League and 5 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East. Colorado is a long shot to make any noise down the stretch in the National League but it has won five of its last six games. The Rockies have outscored their opponents by 24 runs in that 5-1 surge.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), MASN2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (6-6, 5.04 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (6-5, 3.06)

Nicasio's season remains an inconsistent one. After going 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in his first three starts upon being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on July 12, he went 0-2 with a 9.64 mark in his next three. The 26-year-old has a 6.03 ERA in 12 road starts, giving up 76 hits and 24 walks in 59 2/3 innings.

While Nicasio has struggled on the road, Chen has thrived at home, posting a 3-1 record and a 2.67 ERA in his five starts at Camden Yards. He has recorded six straight quality starts since coming off the disabled list July 10. Chen received little support in suffering the loss at San Francisco on Saturday, when he allowed three runs and five hits in six innings of a 3-2 setback.

WALK-OFFS

1. Colorado C Wilin Rosario sat out Wednesday's win over San Diego one day after tweaking a hamstring.

2. Baltimore CF Adam Jones is one home run shy of becoming the second outfielder in Orioles history with at least three seasons of 25 or more homers. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who did it five times, is the one other player on that list.

3. The Rockies own a 5-4 series advantage. The teams last met June 8-10, 2007, at Camden Yards, with Colorado taking two of three.

PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Rockies 3