Pittsburgh @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 4, Colorado 5

While the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen has taken the National League by storm, the Colorado Rockies’ Dexter Fowler is starting to prove he might be special, too. The Rockies host the Pirates in the second of their three-game series Tuesday and the center fielders will try to continue to be the center of attention. McCutchen is hitting .458 with 11 homers, 31 RBIs and scored 30 runs in his last 30 games and has emerged as a serious NL MVP candidate. Fowler is 15-for-39 in July, and his sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday gave the Rockies a 5-4 victory.

The Pirates, who are one game behind Cincinnati in the NL Central, may need plenty of offense from McCutchen and the rest of the team as it sends Erik Bedard to the mound. Bedard has lost four straight decisions and is winless in his five starts. He will oppose Colorado rookie Christian Friedrich, who hadn’t won in six starts before defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Friday.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Pittsburgh, Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Erik Bedard (4-10, 4.80 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Christian Friedrich (5-6, 5.60)

With the rest of the Pirates’ rotation 27-14, Bedard is the weakest link. He has allowed 14 runs (13 earned) and 20 hits in 14 1/3 innings over his last three starts. The Rockies’ roster is batting .217 against him with Michael Cuddyer 6-for-22 (five RBIs, 11 strikeouts) and Marco Scutaro 2-for-16. Bedard is 2-7 with a 6.60 ERA in nine road starts this season and has lost his last five outings away from home.

After losing five straight decisions, Friedrich allowed one run, five hits and struck out seven in six innings against the Phillies. Since the Rockies began using a four-man rotation on June 19, Friedrich is 1-3 with a 5.61 ERA in five starts. He has allowed 16 runs, 31 hits, walked five and struck out 31 in 25 2/3 innings during that span. Friedrich has never faced the Pirates or any of their players.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies INF Chris Nelson went to a hospital Monday to undergo tests for an irregular heartbeat. He remained there overnight.

2. Pittsburgh 2B Neil Walker has a 16-game hitting streak.

3. Pirates LF Alex Presley was activated from the seven-day concussion list and went 1-for-4 on Monday. Presley suffered the injury while trying to make a diving catch against Houston on July 3.