Colorado @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( May 18, 2008 ) Minnesota 2, Colorado 6

The Colorado Rockies know how difficult life can be without All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. That’s why they were cautious with their injured star this time around.

After some much-needed time off, Tulowitzki is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday when the Rockies begin a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins.

Colorado’s best hitter, Tulowitzki leads the team with a .307 average and is second in RBIs (32). He hasn’t played since Friday, though, when he tweaked his groin in wet conditions at Coors Field.

The Rockies sat him Sunday and had a day off Monday. They are hopeful that the time off will help him avoid the disabled list.

It's difficult to blame Colorado for being careful with Tulowitzki after what happened in 2008. Former manager Clint Hurdle let him play through pain in his thigh, which may have led to Tulowitzki suffering a torn quadriceps.

The injury cost him 46 games and he struggled upon his return. The 2007 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up hit just .263 with eight homers and 46 RBIs in 2008. It's no coincidence that Colorado finished 14 games under .500 just one year after reaching their lone World Series appearance.

In addition, the injury lingered into the early part of last season and may have been a factor in his slow start to 2009. Tulowitzki was hitting just .226 after the first two months.

Now that he’s off to strong start in 2010, Colorado didn’t want to risk further injury to the face of its franchise - especially since it is in currently fourth-place in the competitive NL West and has been scuffling offensively.

The Rockies had scored four or fewer runs in 10 of their previous 13 games before breaking out for a 10-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Ryan Spilborghs homered twice and Carlos Gonzalez also went deep as Colorado posted its highest run total since May 29.

Now, Tulowitzki returns in time to try and help the Rockies to a fourth straight win - and normally facing an American League team may help them get it.

The Rockies are 5-1 in interleague play this season and a National League-best 44-25 since 2006.

But things won’t be easy against the Twins, who are tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best winning percentage .717 (56-22) in interleague play since 2006.

Minnesota looks to restore its dominance over the National League after a rare interleague series loss. The AL Central-leading Twins managed just seven runs in losing two of three against the Atlanta Braves over the weekend.

Minnesota hands the ball to Carl Pavano (6-6, 3.92). The right-hander is coming off one of his best starts of the season on Wednesday as he allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings of a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.

He is 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in nine games – eight starts - against Colorado.

Pavano will be opposed by Aaron Cook (2-3, 4.76), who is 0-3 with a 6.81 ERA in seven starts away from Coors Field.

Cook was sharp in his last home outing, allowing two runs and five hits in seven innings, but did not receive a decision in a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

In his lone start against the Twins in 2003, Cook was roughed up for six runs and 11 hits in four innings in a 7-4 loss.