Rockies at Padres
Teams across the majors are striking out at a record pace this season, and the Colorado Rockies are no exception. The Rockies look to improve their contact rate Monday when they begin a brief two-game set against the host San Diego Padres, who are 5-5 on their 12-game homestand.
The Rockies are second in the National League West at 22-19, but their batters have struck out 60 times in their past six games, including 15 in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to Milwaukee. “We’re not happy about that. We got to make sure that those strikeout totals come down for sure,” manager Bud Black told reporters. “It’s not something that we’re going to stand for as we move forward.” San Diego salvaged a split of their four-game series against St. Louis with Sunday’s 5-3 win as Clayton Richard matched his career high with 10 strikeouts in eight innings. Cory Spangenberg, who was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Saturday, went 1-for-4 on Sunday and figures to split time at third base with Christian Villanueva, who is hitless in his last 36 at-bats after hitting .338 with eight home runs in April.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet - Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (2-1, 4.23 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 2.98)
Anderson saw his eight-game unbeaten streak come to an end Wednesday, when he allowed four runs over five innings in an 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The 28-year-old has given up two home runs in each of his last two starts after allowing a total of three in his first six outings. Anderson is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in five career starts versus San Diego, including a 1.50 ERA with no-decisions in two outings this season.
Lucchesi allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision against Washington on Wednesday. The 24-year-old rookie has 46 strikeouts against 14 walks over his first eight big-league turns across 42 1/3 innings. Lucchesi made the first two starts of his career against Colorado in early April, going 1-0 and allowing a total of two unearned runs on five hits with 15 strikeouts and four walks over 11 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado has reached base safely in 23 consecutive games, the second-longest streak of his career.
2. The Padres placed Phil Maton on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain and recalled fellow RHP Kazuhisa Makita from Triple-A El Paso.
3. The Rockies are 18-2 when leading after six innings.