Rockies at Diamondbacks
The Colorado Rockies' bid for their first division title in franchise history was dealt a major blow after they were unceremoniously swept in their last series. The suddenly reeling Rockies (82-70) have dropped five of six heading into the final leg of their nine-game homestand with Friday's opener of a three-set set against the Arizona Diamondbacks (79-74).
"Like I've said all along, I think this is going to come down to the end," Colorado manager Bud Black said after watching his team get swept in Los Angeles to fall 2 1/2 games behind the National League West-leading Dodgers and 1 1/2 in back of St. Louis for the final wild-card spot. Charlie Blackmon is batting .390 with four homers, eight RBIs and nine runs scored during his 12-game hitting streak, and he is 21-for-60 with five homers and 14 RBIs against Arizona this season. The Diamondbacks posted just their fifth win in 19 outings with a 9-0 romp of the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday to move within five games of the Cardinals for the final wild-card spot. "Obviously it has been a struggle the past couple of weeks, and I feel like (in) the dugout things have been like forced a little bit," outfielder Chris Owings said. "A win like this might give some guys some clear heads going into Friday."
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Colorado), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH German Marquez (12-10, 3.96 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (14-10, 3.20)
Marquez increased his streak of quality starts to 10 on Saturday after allowing three runs in six innings of a 3-0 setback at San Francisco. The 23-year-old Venezuelan owns a 2-1 mark with a 4.33 ERA in five outings against Arizona this season, highlighted by an 11-strikeout performance in a 13-2 romp on Sept. 10. While Marquez has enjoyed some success versus the Diamondbacks, A.J. Pollock (9-for-16), David Peralta (11-for-26) and Paul Goldschmidt (10-for-23) have tormented him in his career.
Greinke will bid to reach the 15-win plateau for the eighth time in his career when he faces Colorado, against which he owns a 3-0 mark with a 2.77 ERA in four starts this season. Trevor Story (11-for-35, five homers, 12 RBIs) has flustered the 34-year-old in his career, although the hurler has gotten the better of Ian Desmond (5-for-30, eight strikeouts). Greinke has limped down the stretch, falling to 2-5 in his last nine starts after allowing four runs on eight hits in a 5-4 setback at Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Desmond, who had a two-run single on Wednesday, is 19-for-56 with three homers and 13 RBIs against Arizona this season.
2. Owings, who had a homer and three hits on Wednesday, is 9-for-22 versus Colorado this season.
3. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado is just 4-for-25 in his last six games overall entering the series at Arizona, against which he is 20-for-64 with six homers, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored.