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Cubs-Rockies Preview

Aug 10, 2009 - 12:49 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Chicago (58-50) at Colorado (60-50), 8:40 p.m. EDT

In no mood for more bad news after their top pitcher went on the disabled list, the Chicago Cubs now find their leading hitter on the mend.

To the Colorado Rockies, meanwhile, all news is good as long as they're facing the NL Central.

The Rockies will try to make it 17 wins in 18 games against Central teams Monday when they wrap up a four-game set against the visiting Cubs, who will hope to have a healthy Aramis Ramirez back in their lineup.

Colorado (61-50) lost eight of its first 11 against Central opponents, but has dominated that division ever since. The Rockies' 15-game winning streak against the Central came to an end Saturday when Chicago won 6-5, but they bounced back quickly.

Todd Helton extended his hitting streak to 14 games in the first inning Sunday, and Colorado scored three times en route to an 11-5 win that tied it with San Francisco for the wild-card lead.

"He is in a very good place and swinging the bat really well," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said of Helton, who's hitting a modest .328 during the streak but is 7 for 12 in this series. "We've been trying to get traffic on the bases in front of this guy."

The Cubs (58-51) lost without Ramirez, who sat out after leaving with a sore left shoulder Saturday - the same day ace Carlos Zambrano was placed on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms. Manager Lou Piniella, who was ejected Sunday for arguing a second-inning double play, said Ramirez will be evaluated Monday and is questionable to play in the series finale.

The third baseman, who missed two months earlier this season with a dislocated left shoulder, leads Chicago with a .317 average.

Ramirez is 1 for 2 in his career against Jorge De La Rosa (9-8, 5.00 ERA), who looks to bounce back from his first loss after winning seven straight decisions. De La Rosa posted a 3.02 ERA in winning seven of eight starts from June 21-July 30, but was charged with seven runs and 10 hits over five innings Wednesday in a 7-0 loss at Philadelphia.

Tracy is hopeful the left-hander can rebound quickly against the Cubs, whom De La Rosa has held scoreless in 6 1-3 innings spanning four relief appearances.

"From a growth standpoint, from a development standpoint, the complete maturity of a winning pitcher comes when you go out there on a given night and you realize you have something that's not working, you have to turn the page," Tracy told the Rockies' official Web site.

Chicago will also send a left-hander to the mound, and Tom Gorzelanny (4-1, 3.38) couldn't have looked much better in his Cubs debut Tuesday. Acquired from Pittsburgh prior to the trade deadline, the Chicago-area native gave up just one run and three hits over 7 1-3 innings in a 6-3 win at Cincinnati.

"What a nice game Gorzelanny pitched," Piniella said. "A great way to break in here. That was just what we needed. ... You can't pitch any better than he pitched."

Gorzelanny is 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts against Colorado. He gave up just one earned run over six innings in an 11-2 Pirates win on Aug. 22, 2007, his lone outing at Coors Field.