Padres at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are in need of a strong performance from their pitching staff after allowing double-digit run totals in three of their last five contests. Colorado looks to bounce back from one of those outings when it hosts the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.
The Rockies also surrendered nine runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday and yielded the same amount in the seventh inning of Monday's 13-5 setback after recovering from a four-run first inning by matching San Diego in the bottom half. Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story belted two-run homers in the opening frame for Colorado, which lost two of three at home to the Padres from April 9-11 after winning two of three in San Diego a week earlier. Wil Myers registered four of the Padres' 16 hits on Monday while Carlos Asuaje collected four RBIs as the club posted just its second victory in seven contests. Franchy Cordero highlighted the seventh inning with a two-run blast as San Diego scored more runs in the frame than it did during its three-game series at Arizona over the weekend (eight).
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (NR) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (0-3, 5.85 ERA)
A first-round pick in the 2016 draft, Lauer finds himself in the unenviable position of making his major-league debut at hitter-friendly Coors Field. The 22-year-old native of Ohio began the year with El Paso, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA over three starts in his first season at the Triple-A level. Lauer limited the opposition to six runs and 11 hits over 18 innings, recording 19 strikeouts while issuing six walks.
Freeland has thrown a total of 192 pitches over his last two starts but was unable to complete five innings in either one. The 24-year-old native of Denver is coming off a loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday in which he was tagged for five runs and six hits over four frames. Freeland has yet to defeat San Diego in his brief career, going 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA in three starts and two relief appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies OF Gerardo Parra on Tuesday will serve the third contest of his four-game suspension for his participation in a benches-clearing brawl against the Padres on April 11.
2. San Diego 3B Christian Villanueva (hamstring) was a late scratch from Monday's lineup and is day-to-day.
3. Colorado placed LHP Chris Rusin (intercostal) on the 10-day disabled list, transferred RHP Carlos Estevez (elbow) to the 60-day DL and purchased the contract of LHP Harrison Musgrave from Triple-A Albuquerque.