Colorado @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) Colorado 0, Philadelphia 0

The Philadelphia Phillies are hoping Saturday’s unexpected day off doesn’t slow their momentum. After nearly a three-hour rain delay, Saturday’s game against the visiting Colorado Rockies was postponed and rescheduled as a day-night doubleheader on Sunday. The Phillies have used a 10-4 run to move four games under .500 for the first time in nearly 2 1/2 months, and they’re 6 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card spot in the National League. Philadelphia third baseman Kevin Frandsen will miss the next few games after an MRI on Saturday revealed a stress fracture to his left fibula. Frandsen, who is batting .336 in 34 games with the Phillies, was serving as the team’s regular third baseman even before Placido Polanco was shut down for the season with lower back pain.

The Rockies have managed only two runs during their three-game losing streak, but their pitching has shown reason for optimism over the past week. The Rockies had not allowed an earned run in 36 innings before the Phillies rallied for three over the final three innings to win Friday’s series opener 3-2. Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has been out since the end of May with a left groin injury, but he's nearing a return after playing nine innings for Double-A Tulsa on Saturday. When Tulowitzki returns, the Rockies are expected to give rookie Josh Rutledge an extended look at second base. Rutledge, who has 18 multi-hit games in his first 40 major league games, made his first career start at second base on Friday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), PHL17 (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (4-4, 5.53 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (14-6, 3.04)

Chatwood had a clunker last time out, going only three innings and permitting six runson only three hits and a season-high five walks in a loss at Atlanta. He had allowed two earned runs or fewer in his six previous starts. Chatwood continues to put too many runners on base, as evidenced by an ugly 1.88 WHIP in six appearances (three starts) away from home.

Hamels allowed three runs for the third straight outing and earned his second consecutive no-decision last time out against Atlanta. He is 3-0 in his last five outings, which includes back-to-back shutouts against Miami and the Braves. Hamels turned in a dominating performance against the Rockies in Colorado on July 15, giving up one run on six hits and striking out seven in eight innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Phillies have posted a 16-8 record in their last 24 games at Citizens Bank Park

2. The Rockies have a team ERA of 2.73 in seven games in September.

3. Philadelphia is 27-7 against Colorado since the start of the 2008 season.