Rockies at Padres
The San Diego Padres vie for a second straight win after enduring a season-opening four-game losing streak when they host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. San Diego dropped the opener of the four-game series before posting back-to-back three-run innings on Tuesday en route to an 8-4 victory.
The Padres wonder what Christian Villanueva can do for an encore after the 26-year-old became the third player in major-league history (Bobby Estalella, Jarrett Parker) to register a three-homer performance before playing 15 career games. Villanueva, who hit four homers in 12 games last season, is the seventh Padre to go deep three times in a contest and second to do so at Petco Park - joining current teammate Hunter Renfroe. Nolan Arenado drove in a pair of runs for the Rockies, who are 2-3 on their season-opening seven-game road trip. Arenado doubled his season total in RBIs on Tuesday as he seeks his fourth consecutive campaign with at least 130.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (0-0, 1.29)
Gray struggled at Arizona on Thursday, when he yielded three runs on six hits and three walks while throwing 86 pitches over four-plus innings of a loss. The 26-year-old Oklahoman has not fared well on the road during his career, going 8-13 with a 4.38 ERA in 32 starts. Gray has had success against San Diego, however, as he is 4-2 with a 2.40 ERA and his only major-league shutout in 10 turns.
Richard worked seven superb innings against Milwaukee on Opening Day, allowing one run and six hits. Of the 21 outs recorded by the 34-year-old native of Indiana, 12 came via ground balls and four were strikeouts. Richard has had his problems against Colorado over his career, going 5-6 with a 5.21 ERA in 18 starts and one relief appearance.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres OF Wil Myers and C Austin Hedges were kept out of the starting lineup Tuesday due to triceps and back injuries, respectively.
2. Colorado OF Carlos Gonzalez went 0-for-4 on Tuesday after notching two hits a day earlier to pass Vinny Castilla (1,206) for fourth place on the franchise list.
3. San Diego optioned LHP Kyle McGrath to Triple-A El Paso and transferred SS Allen Cordoba (concussion) to the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday.