Padres at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are playing solid baseball as they attempt to claim a National League wild-card spot. Colorado aims for its 10th victory in 13 games when it hosts the San Diego Padres on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set.
The Rockies won the series opener 6-1 to remain 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee and move 3 1/2 in front of St. Louis for the second NL wild card. Colorado is looking to defeat San Diego for the seventh straight time and holds a 9-4 advantage in the season series. Nolan Arenado clubbed his 34th homer for the Rockies on Friday and raised his major league-leading RBI count to 124, nine shy of the career high he set last season. The Padres have dropped four consecutive games, getting outscored 28-4 during the slide.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jordan Lyles (1-2, 6.75 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (4-5, 5.75)
Lyles beat Arizona in his second start as a member of the Padres, allowing four runs and six hits in five innings. He made 33 relief appearances for the Rockies this season before being released, ending a stint of more than 3 1/2 seasons in the Mile High City. Lyles is 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) versus Colorado and is 7-6 with a 5.48 ERA in 56 games (19 starts) at Coors Field.
Anderson is replacing the struggling Kyle Freeland in the rotation after pitching four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win against Arizona on Monday. The appearance was Anderson's first since June 25 due to knee surgery, and manager Bud Black termed his performance "outstanding." Anderson made his major-league debut against the Padres last season, allowing one run and six hits over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies (81-67) are one victory away from recording their first winning campaign since 2010.
2. San Diego 1B Wil Myers hit his 28th homer on Friday to match the career high he set last season.
3. Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu contributed a two-run triple in the opener, his third of the month and fourth of the season.