Colorado @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2012 ) Colorado 1, Washington 4

Sunday is never a day of rest during the Major League Baseball season, but apparently the Colorado Rockies did not receive the memo. The Rockies are 2-11 on Sundays in 2012 and 8-30 since the start of 2011 as they visit the Washington Nationals in the finale of their three-game series, which ushers in the All-Star break.

Colorado’s Jeremy Guthrie was acquired during the off-season to provide veteran leadership for a young pitching staff, but has endured a tough 2012. He is coming off one of his best starts of the season, though, and could draw interest approaching the July 31 trade deadline should he continue to pitch well. The Nationals send out Jordan Zimmermann, who is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts against the Rockies. He allowed one run in seven innings in Washington’s 11-5 victory at Colorado on June 27.

Washington, which leads the National League East by 4½ games over the New York Mets and has the best record in the National League at 49-33, evened the series with a 4-1 victory Saturday. The Nationals have won five of their last six games. Colorado has lost seven straight road series and is 1-11-1 in away series this season.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), MASN, WDCW DC-50 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jeremy Guthrie (3-8, 6.28 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (5-6, 2.70)

Guthrie allowed two runs and six hits in six innings in a 4-1 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday in his first start since June 17. He was sent to the bullpen when manager Jim Tracy went to a four-man rotation June 19, but became a starter again after rookie Christian Friedrich needed an extra day to rest his sore right calf. Guthrie is 2-1 with a 2.34 ERA in eight games against the Nationals, but yielded three runs and six hits in four innings of relief against them on June 27.

Zimmermann, who has the lowest ERA among Nationals’ starters, has won two straight outings. He allowed two runs (one earned), seven hits and struck out seven in six innings in Washington’s 9-3 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday. Zimmermann has recorded six straight quality starts and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in each of his last four outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Colorado is 7-12 since starting the four-man rotation June 19.

2. Washington’s Tyler Clippard earned his 14th straight save Saturday since blowing his first opportunity of the season.

3. Rockies reliever Matt Belisle hasn’t allowed a run in 14 innings, the longest streak by a Colorado pitcher this season. He has struck out 15 during that span (12 games).