The set-up: Colorado cruised to a 10-0 victory in the opener of this three-game series on Friday but St. Louis countered on Saturday with a 3-0 victory, as Adam Wainwright won his fifth straight decision by combining with two relievers on a four-hit shutout. It marked only the second time in Rockies franchise history that they were shut out following a shutout win in the previous game at Coors Field and that occurrence also happened against the Cardinals. Colorado is 32-19 leaving them atop the NL West and while St. Louis' 24-22 record is much more modest, the Cards are only a half-game out of first in the tightly-bunched NL Central. The teams meet for the rubber match of this three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

The pitching matchup: Lance Lynn (4-2 & 2.53 ERA) will take the mound for the Cards and German Marquez (3-2 & 3.86 ERA) for the Rockies. Lynn allowed just one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in eight innings this past Tuesday in LA against the Dodgers but his winless streak reached three starts in LA's 2-1 win (13 innings). Lynn is having an excellent season, allowing more than two ERs only twice in nine starts, including just once in his last seven. Lynn has made five career starts against Colorado, going 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA (team is 2-3). Marquez made his 2017 debut back on April 25th against the Nats and got ripped for eight ERs in just four innings of a 15-12 loss. However, he has allowed more than one run just once in his five outings since, earning a win in each of his last three. Marquez has only one career start against St. Louis, a five-inning effort on September 21st of last year, in which he yielded one run on four hits over five innings.

The pick: The Rockies are 11-2-2 in series this season and can capture their 12th series win with a victory on Sunday but I don't want to go against Lynn. He ranks second among National League pitchers with an opponents average of .188 and owns a 1.77 ERA in three career starts at Coors Field. Make the Cards a 10* play.