Florida @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2011 ) Florida 6, Colorado 5

THE STORY: The Florida Marlins teetered on the edge of letting another victory get away Tuesday before holding on to even their series with the Colorado Rockies. The Marlins will now send Ricky Nolasco -- 5-0 against the Rockies and a 3-0 at Coors Field -- to the mound to try and win the three-game set and the season series Wednesday night. Florida has won nine of its last 12 games on the road and the Rockies are 3-7 in their last 10 home games. The Marlins have won three of the first five between the two teams this season.

TV: 8:40 p.m. EST; FS-FL (Florida), ROOT (Colorado).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (9-8, 3.72) vs. Rockies RH Aaron Cook (2-7, 5.43).

Nolasco has allowed two or less runs in eight of his last nine games, going 5-4. He gave up one run over eight innings to beat San Francisco in his last start. Nolasco, who needs three strikeouts pass Dontrelle Willis for the most in club history, has a 2.27 ERA lifetime over 39 2/3 innings against Colorado. Troy Tulowitzki is 4-for-7 with a homer and two RBIs against Nolasco.

Cook has given up 12 runs over 16 1/3 innings in his last three starts. His teammates have scored just three runs in his last three starts. Cook has allowed 86 hits in 68 innings and opponents are batting .319 against him. He is 3-3 lifetime with a 5.45 ERA over 38 innings against Florida. Emilio Bonifacio is 5-for-8 against Cook.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (57-65): Outfielder Bryan Petersen continues to make an impression with more playing time. Petersen has three triples in the series and is 9-for-17 the last five games to raise his average to .282. Mike Stanton had just one hit Tuesday, but it was his third homer in three days and proved to be the winning run. Stanton has a team-high 28 homers and 74 RBIs. Bonifacio has picked it up after a slow start in August, going 10-for-33 the last eight games in the lead-off spot. The Marlins expect to activate infielder Omar Infante off the disabled list over the weekend.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (57-67): Tulowitzki can do little wrong. The Rockies’ shortstop went into the all-star break with a .268 average. He has since belted eight homers and raised his average to .305. Tulowitzki is 23-for-49 the last 14 games with 12 RBIs and five homers. Carlos Gonzalez, batting just in front of Tulowitzki, has also homered three times in the last five games and knocked in seven. Veteran Todd Helton is 9-for-26 the last six games. Pitcher Juan Nicasio spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since suffering a fractured vertebra when he was hit by a line drive. He said he is determined to pitch again.

FINAL PITCH: Marlins’ reliever Edward Mujica, who left Monday’s game with a strained right lat, could be ready to pitch against the San Diego Padres over the weekend. Mujica was acquired from the Padres in a deal for Cameron Maybin in the off season.