Arizona @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) Colorado 2, Arizona 4

THE STORY: Arizona looks to tighten its stranglehold on the National League West lead Monday afternoon when it begins a three-game series at Colorado. The Diamondbacks have won 11 of their last 12 games, taking two of three games at San Francisco over the weekend to extend their division lead to eight games over the Giants.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports (Arizona); ROOT Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (2-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Esmil Rogers (6-4, 5.94 ERA)

Miley has won consecutive starts after a rough major-league debut Aug. 20, allowing just two runs in his last 12 innings. The last of those two wins came against Colorado, with Miley scattering six hits and a walk over six innings in a 9-4 Arizona victory. His overall numbers (12 strikeouts, seven walks, 1.75 WHIP) aren't awe-inspiring, but Miley has shown the ability to work out of trouble and contribute quality starts for the Diamondbacks.

Rogers is 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA over his last four starts, giving up four runs in each of those outings. His most recent trip to the mound resulted in an Aug. 31 loss at Arizona, which totaled seven hits and drew a pair of walks over six innings. He has no other decisions in five career games (two starts) against the Diamondbacks, posting a 4.96 ERA in those contests. Arizona hitters are a combined 17-for-52 (.327) against Rogers.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (80-60): Arizona woke up on Aug. 23 holding a slim one-game division lead after losing six straight, but it has not looked back since, rolling off nine consecutive victories to reestablish itself as the team to beat. RF Justin Upton has established himself as an MVP candidate, leading a surprisingly potent Diamondbacks offense with a .294 batting average, 26 home runs and 81 RBIs. RHP Ian Kennedy (18-4, 2.96) is a dark-horse candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (66-74): Despite an explosive offense that ranks third in the National League in runs scored (636), Colorado has floundered below the .500 mark almost all season thanks to a pitching staff that ranks near the bottom of the major leagues in ERA (4.35), WHIP (1.38) and home runs allowed (147). SS Troy Tulowitzki ranks among the league leaders with 28 homers and 97 runs batted in.

FINAL PITCH: The Diamondbacks have won their last five games against the Rockies but are just 6-13 in their last 19 games at Coors Field.