Rockies at Padres
The Colorado Rockies are sliding in the wrong direction as they try to earn a National League wild-card spot and look to begin a turnaround when they visit the San Diego Padres on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. The Rockies have dropped three straight and five of their last seven but maintain a one-game lead over Milwaukee for the NL's second wild card.
Colorado suffered a 4-0 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday but was able to keep its lead in the standings when the Brewers lost several hours later. "This is the most talented lineup I've ever been a part of. This lineup's too good to be held down," Rockies catcher Jonathan Lucroy told reporters. "It was going to come down to the wire anyway. We knew that. None of the teams behind us - or even with us now - are going to roll over." San Diego's Hunter Renfroe became the seventh player in franchise history to belt three homers in a game during Wednesday's 13-7 loss to Arizona to raise his output to 24 and tie the franchise rookie mark set in 1969 by Nate Colbert. Padres scheduled starter Clayton Richard signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension on Wednesday and will look to solve his issues against Nolan Arenado (8-for-14, one homer) and Lucroy (7-for-15, one homer).
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (5-5, 5.28 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-14, 4.82)
Anderson defeated the Padres in his last turn, when he allowed two hits over six innings of a 16-0 triumph. The start was his first since June 25 due to knee surgery and he tuned up for it with four innings of scoreless relief to beat Arizona on Sept. 11. The 27-year-old Anderson's only other start against the Padres was in his major-league debut on June 12, 2016, when he allowed one run and six hits over 6 1/3 frames in a no-decision.
Richard lost to Colorado in his last outing as he gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings. The 34-year-old has been roughed up by the Rockies for 31 hits in 15 1/3 frames over three starts this season while going 1-2 with a 9.98 ERA. Richard, who is 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) versus Colorado, is just 1-7 with a 5.03 ERA in 15 road starts this season - including two losses at Coors Field in which he surrendered 14 earned runs over 9 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies hold a 10-5 advantage in the season series.
2. San Diego smashed five homers on Wednesday and has belted 181 on the season to set a new club mark, surpassing the 177 hit by last year's team.
3. Arenado is just 4-for-25 over his last eight games.