Tonight the Pirates play the Rockies in the 3rd game of this 4-game series from Denver.

Here is tonight's scheduled pitching match-up.

Pirates
Zach Duke
(4-6) 4.40 ERA, 44 K's this season

Rockies
Aaron Cook
(11-6) 3.57 ERA, 67 K's this season

Low-Down
Zach Duke is a good young pitcher, but has trouble against proven pitchers liek that of Aaron Cook. He needs to figure out the offense of Colorado quickly if he hopes to win, because by the 4th inning, this game could be blown wide open by the Rockies.

Key Factor
Tonight's key factor will be how well of a 1st and 2nd inning Duke pitches. If he can give up only 2 or 3 hits in the first two, and not allow any runs, than the Pirates have a chance to take control of the game.

Prediction
The Pirates are too sloppy in this seris for me to favor them tonight, so I think the Rockies win the game, 6-2. Although, since I'm going against my team in this one, they'll probably win. I still pick the Rockies.

-Mike Greenspire