Colorado @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Philadelphia 5, Colorado 1

The Philadelphia Phillies have little to play for the rest of the season, save for the chance to finish above .500 and play the role of spoiler. Philadelphia's actually doing an admirable job in the latter category, winning nine of its last 13 - with eight of the victories coming over National League playoff contenders Washington, Cincinnati and Atlanta. The Phillies will host the Colorado Rockies for three games, kicking off a stretch of 12 straight games against teams with losing records.

Even in a demoralizing season that has them buried deep in last place in the NL West, the Rockies suffered a pair of back-to-back deflating defeats while losing three of four in Atlanta. Colorado wound up the series by absorbing consecutive 1-0 losses - a first in franchise history - and the winning run in each defeat came on an unearned run. The Rockies have lost four of six meetings with Philadelphia this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (5-4, 5.73 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (4-7, 3.52)

Francis was hammered for six runs - five earned - and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings last time out against San Diego but did not factor in the decision to remain unbeaten in his last six starts. Despite the pitch-count restrictions on Colorado's staff, Francis had gone at least five innings in his four previous outings. He needs one more win to match last year's total with Kansas City.

Lee is finally earning some dividends in his lost season, winning back-to-back starts for the first time in a year. He was superb in both outings, going seven innings in each and allowing a total of one run. Lee's victory over Washington on Aug. 26 was his first of the year at Citizens Bank Park, where he has gone a head-scratching 1-5 with a 4.14 ERA in 11 starts. He is 1-1 in two starts versus the Rockies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies C Erik Kratz had two homers and seven RBIs in a five-game hitting streak.

2. Colorado has never been shut out in three consecutive games.

3. Rockies 3B Jordan Pacheco had his 14-game hitting streak come to an end Thursday.