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Rockies, Diamondbacks square off in NL West showdown

Sep 28, 2007 - 1:46 PM Arizona (89-70) at Colorado (87-72) 8:05 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies are the hottest team in baseball, and they're setting their sights on a National League West Division title.

The Rockies host the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game series beginning Friday, needing a sweep to be in line for their first division title in franchise history.

The Diamondbacks own a one-game lead in the NL West over the San Diego Padres (88-71), with Colorado two games back. The Padres lead the wild card chase, with the Rockies, New York Mets (87-72) and Philadelphia Phillies (87-72) all one game back.

Colorado thrust itself into the crowded NL playoff picture with a winning streak that stretched to 11 games thanks to Thursday's 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arizona snapped a three-game slide with an 8-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday and will send reigning Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb (17-10, 3.02 ERA) to the mound in the series opener on Friday.

The righthanded sinkerballer is just 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 20 career starts against the Rockies, including a loss on September 2 in which he yielded four runs in seven innings.

The Rockies will counter with ace lefthander Jeff Francis (17-8, 4.17), who has won his last two starts - allowing three runs in 13 2/3 combined innings against the Dodgers and Padres.

Francis is 7-1 in 13 career starts against Arizona with a 3.35 ERA. The 26-year-old tossed seven scoreless innings to earn a win against the Diamondbacks on May 23.

Webb and Francis are tied with the Chicago Cubs' Carlos Zambrano for second in the NL in wins, two behind San Diego ace Jake Peavy.