The set-up: Colorado's road woes have been real but this afternoon, the Rockies look to avoid losing their first home series since late June when they host the New York Mets in the rubber match of their three-game set. Colorado has gone 4-0-1 in home series since dropping two of three to Arizona back in late-June (20-22). The Rockies edged the Mets 5-4 on Tuesday but last night, fell 10-5, as the Mets rode a six-run sixth inning to victory. The loss was the fifth in Colorado's last eight, leaving them just a half-game back of the D'backs but also 5 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot. As for the Mets, who have no realistic playoff hopes with two months left in the 2017 season at 49-56, they will be attempting to win their first road series since taking two of three in Miami from June 27-29.

The pitching matchup: Rafael Montero (1-7 & 5.72 ERA) takes the mound for New York and German Marquez (9-4 & 4.08 ERA) for Colorado. Montero makes his fourth consecutive start and eighth overall this season, as he seeks his first victory since June 25 at San Francisco. The Mets are 3-4 in Montero's starts this season and he has won his only career start against Colorado when he walked four but struck out seven and scattered three hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings back on September 10, 2014,
Marquez has done a solid job for Colorado in 2017 (team is 11-6 in his 17 starts) and he comes in having won four consecutive starts after allowing two runs on three hits while registering a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings of 4-2 Saturday win at Washington. Marquez will be facing New York for the first time in his brief career.

The pick: Tough spot for the Mets here, as they are wrapping up a 10-game road trip (sit 4-5) this afternoon, after visits to San Diego and Seattle. Meanwhile, expect Colorado to get a boost with the recently acquired Jonathan Lucroy expected to make his Rockies debut on Thursday at catcher. Having he 31-year-old behind the plate is expected to provide a veteran's presence for a rotation that has often included four rookies, Marquez, Kyle Freeland, Jeff Hoffman and Antonio Senzatela. Getting back to Marquez, he's been great at Coors Field, since opening the season by losing his first two home starts. He takes the mound today, having gone 5-0 in his six starts (Rockies are 6-0) since losing to Arizona on May 5. Backed by a lineup that averages 5.81 RPG at home, make Marquez and the Rockies an 8* play.