Rockies at Giants Preview

SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — The Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants open a three-game series Friday at Oracle Park with both teams seeking to climb out of the National League West basement.

First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. PDT.

Colorado (38-56) and San Francisco (38-54) enter the game separated by just two games in the standings, with the Giants holding a slight edge despite losing their last two games by a combined 19-3 margin. The Rockies dropped three of four at Dodger Stadium earlier this week.

Right-hander Gabriel Hughes is scheduled to start for Colorado. In his last outing Wednesday at Los Angeles, Hughes allowed three earned runs on four hits over six innings in a 4-3 loss. He struck out seven. On July 3 against San Francisco, Hughes threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one strikeout in a 15-3 Rockies victory.

Right-hander Logan Webb will start for San Francisco. Webb has struggled recently, allowing 12 earned runs over his last two starts. On Wednesday against Toronto, he gave up five earned runs on five hits over seven innings in a 10-0 loss. On July 3 at Colorado, he surrendered seven earned runs on 11 hits over three innings in the 15-3 defeat. Webb was sharp in his two starts prior, throwing a combined 15 scoreless innings against Atlanta and the Chicago Cubs.

The teams split a four-game series in Denver last weekend. Colorado won 15-3 on July 3 and 7-6 on July 5; San Francisco won 6-4 on July 4. The Giants took the last meeting in San Francisco, 19-6, on May 31.

San Francisco third baseman Matt Chapman and infielder/outfielder Luis Arraez have been productive at the plate, while Colorado third baseman Kyle Karros homered in the Rockies’ most recent loss.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-4 Rockies victory.

The Rockies continue their road trip Saturday and Sunday in San Francisco before returning home to host Cincinnati. The Giants remain home through the weekend, then travel to Seattle.