Colorado @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2018 ) Colorado 5, Arizona 1

Starting pitching continues to be a surprising asset for the Colorado Rockies, who aim for a three-game sweep of the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Antonio Senzatela tossed seven strong innings in Saturday’s 5-1 victory as the Rockies remained 1 1/2 games behind both the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West and St. Louis for the second wild-card spot.

Chris Iannetta drove in three runs and Charlie Blackmon singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 14 games for Colorado, which returns home Monday to close the regular season with seven games against Philadelphia (four) and Washington (three). Shortstop Trevor Story has missed the last four games due to an elbow injury and is unlikely to play Sunday, but the MVP candidate could return as soon as Monday. Arizona has dropped 11 of 14 to fall out of playoff contention as it begins a four-game series at home against the Dodgers on Monday before concluding the season with three in San Diego. A.J. Pollock belted his 19th homer in Saturday’s loss, but the heart of the Diamondbacks' order – David Peralta, Paul Goldschmidt and Daniel Descalso – went hitless in nine at-bats.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, TBS, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (15-7, 2.95 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (14-10, 4.79)

Freeland allowed two runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Tuesday. The 25-year-old native of Denver hasn’t lost since Aug. 1 and owns a 7-1 record and 2.69 ERA in 12 turns since the All-Star break. Pollock is 5-for-14 with a home run versus Freeland, who is 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career starts against Arizona – including a 1-0 record and 4.50 mark in three games at Chase Field.

Godley lost his third straight start on Sept. 15, when he surrendered five runs - four earned - on seven hits and six walks over 3 2/3 innings against Houston. The 28-year-old from South Carolina has given up a total of 13 runs - 12 earned - and 16 hits over 12 2/3 frames in his last three turns, raising his ERA from 4.42 to 4.84. Nolan Arenado is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts against Godley, who owns a 4-1 record and 3.99 ERA in eight career games (six starts) versus Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. Peralta is one blast shy of becoming the sixth Arizona outfielder ever to reach the 30-homer plateau.

2. Colorado’s starting pitchers have recorded six quality outings over the last eight games.

3. Arizona MGR Torey Lovullo stated that RHP Matt Koch will start Tuesday against the Dodgers.

PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 2