Marlins at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies aren't exactly streaking toward a National League wild-card spot, but they remain in solid position entering Tuesday's contest against the visiting Miami Marlins. Colorado has lost eight of its last 12 but sits 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee and St. Louis, respectively, for the second wild card with five contests remaining.
The Rockies missed an opportunity to create some breathing room when they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Marlins on Monday in the opener of the three-game set. Nolan Arenado played despite leaving Sunday's game due to a hand injury and went 1-for-3 with an RBI to raise his NL-leading total to 127 - one more than Miami's Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins have captured five of their last seven overall contests and continued their success against Colorado by winning for the 14th time in 18 meetings since the beginning of the 2015 season. Stanton was hitless in five at-bats in the opener and remains three blasts shy of posting the ninth 60-homer campaign in major-league history.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (14-6, 3.55 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (5-6, 5.24)
Urena is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts this month as he finishes the season strong. The 26-year-old was just 4-9 with a 6.13 ERA last season but has staged a remarkable turnaround and is vying to become the eighth NL pitcher to reach 15 wins this year. Urena is 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies, including a no-decision on Aug. 11 in which he allowed three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Anderson is 2-1 with a 1.72 ERA in three starts since returning from knee surgery. The 27-year-old has fared well in 19 career appearances (18 starts) at Coors Field, going 7-5 with a 3.64 ERA. Anderson lost his lone start against the Marlins as he gave up two runs and four hits over 5 2/3 frames on June 19, 2016.
WALK-OFFS
1. Stanton (.348 average, three homers, 13 RBIs) and fellow Marlins OF Marcell Ozuna (.500, three, seven) shared National League Player of the Week honors.
2. Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez (shoulder) has missed back-to-back starts but struck out as a pinch-hitter on Monday to drop to 0-for-10 over his last four contests.
3. Miami SS Miguel Rojas recorded a career-best four RBIs in Monday's triumph.