Hanging around at the bottom of the National League West standings and coming off being swept in three-game home series, San Diego and Colorado need to win a series - at least. One of them will have to do so when the Rockies head to Petco Park to begin a three-game series and eight-game road trip against division opponents.
Colorado lost three straight to Atlanta over the weekend, allowing 29 runs. The move from Coors Field to Petco Park should help ease the burden on the Rockies' pitching staff, as should facing San Diego, which ranks 15th among 16 National League teams in scoring. The Padres are tied with the Twins for the most losses in the majors (20) after a late collapse Sunday. They were tied at 2 in the eighth when Andrew Cashner walked Florida's Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded to open the gate for a four-run inning and a 6-3 San Diego loss.
San Diego has lost three straight and six of eight.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), FSSD (San Diego)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (0-2, 2.92 ERA)
Pomeranz was denied a win when the bullpen couldn't hold his lead Wednesday against the Dodgers, but he had one of his best outings. The 23-year-old lefty went 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits. He continues to fight his control a bit, as he has walked 12 in 20 innings.
Volquez is still looking for his first win with the Padres, but he has enjoyed the change of scenery and the chance to pitch in spacious Petco Park. Volquez threw seven scoreless innings against the Brewers on Tuesday, allowing only three hits, but the Padres didn't push across a run until after he was out of the game.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Cashner, Luke Gregerson and Dale Thayer are expected to split save chances while Padres closer Huston Street is on the disabled list.
2. The Rockies' bullpen has logged more innings than the starters in two of the team's past three series. The relievers pitched 14 2/3 innings, and the starters threw 14 1/3 against Atlanta.
3. Volquez has posted three consecutive quality starts and has allowed four runs in 20 innings over that span, but the Padres scored a total of five runs in those games.