Philadelphia @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( May 19, 2011 ) Colorado 7, Philadelphia 1

THE STORY: Buoyed by the addition of Hunter Pence, the Philadelphia Phillies appear primed to run away with the National League East. The Colorado Rockies were expected to contend in the NL West, but the trading of ace Ubaldo Jimenez is indicative of how their season has played out. Two teams headed in opposite directions meet on Monday as the Rockies host Philadelphia. Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels will try to join teammate Roy Halladay as the only 13-game winners in the NL.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, CS (Philadelphia), ROOT Sports

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (8-8, 3.50 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (12-6, 2.61).

Hamels has allowed two runs or less in 11 of his last 12 starts. The lefthander was a tough-luck loser on Wednesday when he allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 2-1 loss to San Francisco. His lone start at Coors Field was horrendous. In his first start of the 2009 season, Hamels was rocked for seven runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Chacin is now the Rockies’ de facto ace with the departure of Jimenez. Opponents are hitting a mere .204 against him, which is the lowest mark in the NL. The 23-year-old righthander has fallen on hard times, however. He is 0-4 with a 4.87 ERA in seven starts since a three-game winning streak. Chacin held the Phillies to one run and four hits in seven innings of a 7-1 win on May 19.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (51-57): The Rockies were favored by many to win the NL West, but they are currently 10 games back of the San Francisco Giants and 7 ½ games back of the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks. Thus, they decided to trade Jimenez. The Rockies received three minor leaguers, including the Indians’ top two pitching prospects – Alex White and Drew Pomeranz. Colorado has gone a season-high six straight games without a home run. Second baseman Mark Ellis was given a rest Sunday after going hitless in his last 16 at bats.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (68-39): Philadelphia is a season-high 29 games over .500 and six games ahead of Atlanta in the NL East following Sunday’s come-from-behind win over Pittsburgh. The Phillies have scored 23 runs in three games since Pence – a two-time All-Star added to provide protection for Ryan Howard – arrived on Friday. He doubled and later scored on Raul Ibanez’s walk-off double in the 10th inning on Sunday. Jimmy Rollins is hitting .412 (7-for-17) with two homers and five RBIs over the last four games since breaking out of an 0-for-19 slump. Roy Oswalt (back) threw a bullpen session on Friday and may return to the rotation next weekend.

FINAL PITCH: Ibanez’s game-tying two-run homer on Sunday came with two outs in the eighth. Philadelphia has scored 199 runs with two outs, the second-highest total in the NL (New York, 200).