Colorado @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2018 ) Colorado 7, Seattle 1

Any talk about the Colorado Rockies being potential sellers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline has been quickly squelched by the team’s current hot streak. The Rockies have climbed back into the tight National League West race and bring a four-game winning streak into Saturday afternoon’s contest against the host Seattle Mariners.

Tony Wolters tripled twice and drove in three runs on Friday as Colorado opened the three-game interleague series with a dominant 7-1 victory. Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-5 with a homer and DJ LeMahieu added two RBIs for the Rockies, who have won seven of their last eight games to move two over .500. Seattle lost for just the second time in 11 contests despite three hits from Denard Span, who is 8-for-18 during his five-game hitting streak. Ben Gamel started in place of Mitch Haniger, who has missed the last two games due to a bruised knee but hopes to return Saturday.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.25 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (8-2, 3.39)

Freeland continued to impress on Monday, allowing two runs and three hits over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over San Francisco. The 25-year-old native of Denver has gone 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA over 27 frames in his last four starts. “There is a poise factor that comes into play when you’re playing this game,” manager Bud Black told reporters. “He’s learning this at the highest level. I love the day that Kyle pitches.”

Paxton won his second straight start on Sunday, giving up two hits and striking out 11 batters over eight innings of a 1-0 victory over Kansas City. The 29-year-old Canadian has registered 30 strikeouts over his last three starts and ranks fifth in the American League with 145 for the season. Chris Iannetta is 0-for-10 with four strikeouts against Paxton, who is 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA in two career turns against Colorado - including a 5-0 victory at Safeco Field on May 31, 2017.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle RHP Edwin Diaz’s 34 saves ties him with John Smoltz (2003) for the second-most prior to the All-Star break, behind only Francisco Rodriguez, who recorded 38 before the break in 2008.

2. Wolters started in place of Rockies C Tom Murphy, who was placed on the paternity list prior to Friday’s game.

3. The Mariners announced a multi-year contract extension for GM Jerry Dipoto.

PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Rockies 3