After two series wins against the top-place teams, the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks welcome the last-place Colorado Rockies to Phoenix on Monday night, opening a three-game series.

Arizona is a league-best 27-11 since June 28 and has won eight straight series, with the two most recent series wins perhaps being the most impressive.

The Diamondbacks first went to Cleveland and swept the Guardians, who entered the series with the best record in the major leagues. Arizona then returned home and shook off a Thursday loss to Philadelphia to win the final three games against the National League-leading Phillies.

After starting June seven games under .500 (the season low), the Diamondbacks are now 13 games under .500 (the season high) and are tied with the San Diego Padres for the NL’s top wildcard spot.

Arizona has gained eight games in the NL West since July 2 and is now within 3 1/2 games of the leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We really have a lot of energy, we obviously have a lot of talent and we’re playing for each other right now,” Diamondbacks infielder Kevin Newman said. “It’s contagious.”

Arizona was lethal at bat against the Phillies, scoring 30 runs on 53 hits in the four games. The Diamondbacks’ average of 5.24 runs per game is tops in the major leagues.

That average could skyrocket even further against a Rockies team that has the worst ERA in the major leagues at 5.57.

Colorado is tied with Miami for the worst record in the NL, but like Arizona, the Rockies just won a series against an NL East opponent.

Manager Bud Black’s team won two of three games against the Atlanta Braves in Denver, including a dramatic 9-8 comeback victory in Sunday’s deciding game.

Colorado scored seven times in the eighth inning to overcome a six-run deficit. Charlie Blackmon had a two-run single during the comeback and finished the series 5-for-10 with three RBIs.

Blackmon’s .258 average and .731 OPS this season are respectable for a 38-year-old, but Black said the 14-year veteran’s true value lies in his delivery.

“Charlie does so much every day. He stays focused and keeps fighting. He doesn’t give up until the game is over. He doesn’t let up. That sends a great message to our team,” Black said.

The Rockies have a 2-5 record against the Diamondbacks this season, but the last time the two teams met was April 8-10.

Colorado plans to send Cal Quantrill (7-8, 4.56 ERA) to the mound on Monday against fellow right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (6-6, 3.92).

Quantrill has not made it past the fifth inning in his last two starts. On July 30, he gave up a season-high seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels, and on August 4, he allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres.

The sixth-year veteran is 1-3 with a 6.19 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against Arizona. He lost two starts against the Diamondbacks earlier this season.

In his last start, a 7-3 win on Wednesday, Pfaadt limited Cleveland to two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Pfaadt is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two career starts against the Rockies. The second-year pro allowed one run in five innings in Arizona’s 5-1 win over Colorado on March 31.

The Diamondbacks should get Ketel Marte back on Monday after the All-Star second baseman missed Sunday’s game with a left ankle injury. Marte’s 30 home runs and .933 OPS both rank in the top 10 in the majors.

–Field level media