Giants at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies struggled over the first two-thirds of their nine-game homestand but are hoping the start of the final series has them going in the right direction as they head into a crucial eight-game road trip. Colorado looks to make it two straight wins after losing five of its first six on the stretch at home when they host the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
The Rockies ended a four-game slide and improved to 2-5 on their homestand with a 4-3 victory in Monday's series opener, as Carlos Gonzalez drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the ninth inning. Charlie Blackmon has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games after going 3-for-5 with a solo homer in the win, recording seven multi-hit performances in that span. Colorado, which leads Milwaukee by 1 1/2 games for the second National League wild card, takes to the road after the set versus the Giants to play four contests against both the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona - which occupies the first wild-card spot. Denard Span and Joe Panik each went 3-for-4 with a home run on Monday for San Francisco, which has lost six of its last seven.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Ty Blach (8-11, 4.68 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (6-12, 5.00)
Blach has lost four straight starts both overall and on the road after allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings at San Diego on Wednesday. The 26-year-old returns to his native Denver in search of his first victory since Aug. 8 against the Chicago Cubs and first away from home since July 5 at Detroit. Blach is 1-0 in two starts and three relief appearances versus Colorado this year, posting the triumph in the most recent meeting on June 28 after giving up three runs - one earned - in 6 1/3 frames.
Chatwood has allowed three runs over 9 2/3 innings in six relief appearances since his last start, a loss to the New York Mets on Aug. 2 in which he was tagged for eight runs over 5 1/3 frames. The 27-year-old Californian has not won since June 8, when he limited the Cubs to one run in six innings at Chicago. Chatwood is 7-3 with one shutout and a 2.83 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against San Francisco, including a 2-0 record in three turns this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu is riding a 12-game hitting streak after going 2-for-5 on Monday.
2. Panik is one homer away from setting a new career high, as he belted his 10th of 2017 in the opener to match the total he reached last season.
3. San Francisco RHP Mark Melancon is hoping to finish the season before undergoing surgery on his right forearm.