MLB Series Preview: Colorado Rockies (5-5) vs. San Francisco Giants (6-4)

September 9, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) bats in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28, left) during the third inning at AT&T Park. The Giants defeated the Rockies 3-2 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

This is potentially a big series for the Colorado Rockies as they enter this three-game set with the NL West leading San Francisco Giants. Colorado is coming off of a 4-2 homestand, taking series from the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox. Colorado is coming to the game on on the offensive side, leading the league in runs (60), batting average (.320), on-base percentage (.371), and slugging percentage (.494). Lead-off hitter Charlie Blackmon currently leads the team in batting average (.471) hitting 13-for-25 (.520) in the last seven days.

Probable Pitching Match-Ups:

April 11th: Rockies: Jorge De La Rosa vs. Giants: Madison Bumgarner
April 12th: Rockies: Brett Anderson vs. Giants: Matt Cain
April 13th: Rockies: Jordan Lyles vs. Giants: Tim Hudson

Although he went 0-for-4 in San Francisco’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday, Brandon Belt is my player to keep an eye on. He is seeing the ball better than he was last year, entering this series batting .295 with five home runs (leads NL) and nine runs batted in. A player to keep an eye on for the Rockies is right fielder Michael Cuddyer. Last year’s NL batting champion enters this series on a nine-game hitting streak, batting .415 with three home runs and ten runs batted in.

The Rockies got a key member back in the bullpen this past series as Boone Logan was activated from the disabled list which sent Corey Dickerson down to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Logan came in with two outs in the ninth inning to get a feel before this weekend’s series and would get the batter to ground out to seal the win. Colorado would make another move after Wilton Lopez fell apart in Colorado’s second game against the White Sox. He would get shipped down to Colorado Springs as infielder Josh Rutledge was recalled.

Jorge De La Rosa looks to bounce back from his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He would throw just 4 1/3 of an inning, giving up four hits, four runs, three earned, three walks, and four strikeouts. He would struggle with pitch-count early in the game which made him a quick exit. His first start of the year against the Marlins he would pitch the same amount of innings, giving up four hits, five runs, five earned while striking out six.

First-pitch for game one of the series (De La Rosa vs. Bumgarner) is scheduled for 10:15 PM ET, 8:15 PM MT.