Arizona @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2013 ) Colorado 2, Arizona 8
After watching their faint National League West title hopes end, the Arizona Diamondbacks officially can be eliminated from postseason consideration on Friday when they open a three-game series at the Colorado Rockies. The Diamondbacks can be bounced either with one more loss or one win by the second wild-card holder (Cincinnati). Arizona watched a six-run third inning went by the boards as the Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up the division on Thursday.
Paul Goldschmidt did his part in the lopsided frame, ripping a ground-rule double for his NL-leading 119th RBI. The slugger collected four hits and five RBIs last weekend versus Jhoulys Chacin and the Rockies. Colorado enters the series on the heels of outlasting St. Louis in a 15-inning win on Thursday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSAZ (Arizona), ROOT (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Randall Delgado (5-6, 3.98 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (13-9, 3.22)
Delgado posted his first victory since Aug. 2 on Sunday after allowing a two-run blast among five hits in six innings against Colorado. The 23-year-old Panamanian has struggled with homers, permitting six in his last three outings. Delgado has recorded quality starts in 11 of 17 trips to the mound.
Chacin fell to 0-2 in his last three starts after yielding four runs on seven hits in four innings against Arizona on Sunday. The 25-year-old Venezuelan saw his four-start stretch of pitching at least seven frames end with the difficult outing. Chacin has issued multiple walks in six of his last seven trips to the mound.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado RF Charlie Blackmon tied a franchise record by doubling for the fifth consecutive game. He has 12 hits, three RBIs and three runs scored in his last five contests.
2. Arizona has won five of the last six meetings between the division rivals and 10 of 16 this season.
3. Diamondbacks OF A.J. Pollock has collected a hit and scored a run in five of his last six contests.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 2