Arizona @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2013 ) Arizona 7, Colorado 2

The Arizona Diamondbacks are two games over .500 and closing in on a winning season. The Diamondbacks will look to make it a three-game cushion over the break-even point when they visit the Colorado Rockies for the rubber match of a three-game set on Sunday. Arizona was eliminated from postseason contention earlier in the week but is in a solid position to post another winning campaign.

The same can’t be said of the Rockies, who already guaranteed themselves a losing campaign. Colorado is using the final six games as an evaluation period as they start to form the plan for a winning 2014 campaign. The end of the season also marks a final lap for veteran first baseman Todd Helton, who announced he would retire at the end of the season and has only three home games remaining.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona), ROOT Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (14-7, 3.17 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (8-8, 4.98)

Corbin is coming to the end of his longest professional season and is stumbling home with a 1-4 record and a 7.76 ERA in his last five starts. The 24-year old lasted only two innings against Los Angeles on Tuesday, allowing six runs on seven hits. Corbin beat Colorado on July 7, yielding one run on three hits while striking out 10.

Nicasio is coming off a disastrous start of his own against St. Louis on Tuesday, surrendering eight runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. The Dominican Republic native issued three walks in that start and 12 in 18 frames over his last four outings. Nicasio started at Arizona on April 26 and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits in five innings to earn a win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies OF Charlie Blackmon is 17-for-34 in his last seven games.

2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has driven in 13 runs in his last seven contests.

3. Colorado RF Michael Cuddyer (sprained left wrist) missed his second straight game on Saturday but could return on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Diamondbacks 4