Colorado @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2015 ) Colorado 8, San Francisco 6

Colorado's best players are performing as such, and while it might not be enough for the Rockies to seriously contend in the National League West, it could pay off down the road. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez — candidates to be moved prior to next month's trade deadline — and budding superstar Nolan Arenado look to stay hot as Colorado visits the San Francisco Giants on Saturday in the middle contest of their three-game series.

Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing three games because of a left hand sprain and matched a career high with five hits, and Arenado has 22 home runs and 64 RBIs after belting a pair of home runs to extend his hitting streak to 13 games in the Rockies' 8-6 victory Friday. Tulowitzki, who would likely attract the most interest from other teams, owns a 10-game hitting streak while helping last-place Colorado (33-40) win five of its last six contests. San Francisco (40-35), which is two games behind Los Angeles in the NL West, is 3-9 at home in June and an uncharacteristic 19-20 at AT&T Park this season. San Francisco's Tim Lincecum is coming off the shortest start of his career and opposes Chris Rusin, who won his last outing after getting battered in two consecutive turns.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Chris Rusin (3-2, 5.03 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (7-4, 3.86)

Rusin allowed three runs in six innings of a 10-4 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday in his fifth start of the season. The 28-year-old Michigan native permitted 20 hits and 13 runs in a combined 9 1/3 innings in losses at Houston (8-5) on June 16 and to Miami (6-0) on June 11. Rusin received a no-decision in his only start against San Francisco when he yielded three hits in seven shutout innings of a 1-0 victory July 27, 2013, at AT&T Park.

Lincecum permitted five runs and seven hits in 1 1/3 innings of a 10-2 loss to Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. The 31-year-old Washington native is 11-10 with a 3.96 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 181 2/3 innings covering 29 starts against Colorado, including a 4-2 loss April 15 when he yielded four runs (three earned) in five innings. Lincecum fares well against Tulowitzki (15-for-60, two home runs, 11 RBIs), but struggles with Arenado (5-for-12, home run).

WALK-OFFS

1. Gonzalez improved his average to .224 in 47 contests at AT&T Park.

2. Giants C Buster Posey is batting .366 in 81 games versus the Rockies, but is 7-for-32 in nine contests this season.

3. Colorado is 7-3 versus San Francisco in 2015, including 4-0 at AT&T Park.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Rockies 2