Houston @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2011 ) Houston 5, Colorado 9

THE STORY: Still not out of playoff contention, the Rockies go for their fourth straight win on Tuesday when they host the Astros in the second of a three-game series. Colorado sits 8 ½ games behind Arizona in the NL West after Monday’s 9-5 win over Houston. And the Rockies still have six games left against the D-Backs and seven versus the second-place Giants, plus six more against the woeful Astros. Colorado is trying to duplicate 2007, when it finished 14-1 and reached the World Series.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, ROOT, FS-H

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Alex White (1-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Astros RH Bud Norris (6-8, 3.61 ERA).

White (strained ligament in his finger) was impressive in his latest rehab start for Double-A Tulsa, allowing three hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He’s taking the rotation spot of Jason Hammel, who was moved to the bullpen. White was acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade last month.

Norris has allowed three runs over his last two starts covering 12 innings, striking out 13. He deserves better than his 6-8 record. Batters are hitting .250 against him. However, in starts with five or more days’ rest, Norris is 1-6 with a 4.42 ERA. He’ll be on five days’ rest Tuesday.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (61-68): Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who homered and drove in three runs in Monday’s 9-5 win, has seven homers and 23 RBIs in 16 games since coming off the disabled list Aug. 6. The Rockies had lost nine of the previous 10 games started by Jhoulys Chacin until Monday’s win. Colorado has just 15 home games left.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (42-86): The Astros activated center fielder Jordan Schafer from the DL on Monday to make his Houston debut, but he provided no spark. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout from the leadoff spot. Schafer, who was out since July 27 with a chip fracture in his left middle finger, was acquired July 31 from Atlanta in a deal for Michael Bourn. Schafer is hitting .235 in 53 games, with 15 steals in 19 tries. This series marks the return of shortstop Clint Barmes, who was drafted and developed by Colorado before being traded to Houston last winter. He went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts Monday.

FINAL PITCH: This is the first Houston-Colorado series of the season. The teams will play four games Sept. 22-25 in Houston…The Astros are 30-26 when scoring first, and 12-60 when their opponent scores first.