The San Diego Padres have won three games in a row and will look to make that four games with a win against the Colorado Rockies who have a 2-4 record coming into the two-game series at Petco Park.
As is the case seemingly every season, the Rockies players are essentially auditioning for other teams around the league. It is understandable that the Colorado roster wants to play well.
The Padres are stuck in limbo of will they or won’t they as the trade deadline approaches. The San Diego players have
made no secret that they are aware of how important the next six games are to the team and the season. The Padres have built momentum despite a 5-5 road trip and will need a win today to keep the good vibes going.
Taking the mound
Michael King (SD) v. Michael Lorenzen (COL)
Michael King came into the season as a co-ace with Nick Pivetta. He quickly became the sole ace when Pivetta went down with injury. King has not had a dominant season, but he has looked better over the last couple of outings. He is he lone pitcher in the San Diego rotation that is a threat to throw a complete game and time out.
Michael Lorenzen has had a down year, but that does not automatically mean the San Diego offense will have success against the Colorado right-hander. Lorenzen sits at 3-9 on the year and carries a 6.53 ERA. The Padres will have to jump on Lorenzen early and often to give King a chance to pitch with a lead.
Batter up!
The San Diego offense has been clicking and there is no reason to make massive changes to the order. The top five had a productive road trip and despite an 0-for-5 from Fernando Tatis Jr. on Sunday, they keep collecting hits. As the saying goes, ride the hot hand. Bogaerts has fallen into one of those cold spells we have come to know in San Diego, but he did hit the ball hard out of the eighth spot in the lineup. He should remain in that spot to give the lineup some length and limit the number of opportunities he has to roll into a double play. Rengifo has been too good to sit and Sheets showed signs of getting back on track. Campy should start for his offense but his defensive blunder on Sunday could mean he sits in place of Freddy Fermin and is used later in the game as a pinch-hit threat off the bench.
- Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
- Jake Cronenworth, 2B
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Ty France, 1B
- Jackson Merrill, CF
- Luis Rengifo, LF
- Gavin Sheets DH, 2B
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Luis Campusano, C
Cronenworth has been much better since returning from the IL and Sunday may have been his best game at the plate this season. If he can continue to set the table for Machado, France and Merrill he could help to extend the San Diego win streak with a win over the Rockies.
Relief corps
The San Diego bullpen has seen a lot of work this season and saw even more over their 10-game road trip. The Padres have reverted to an 11-man ‘pen, which means there are plenty of arms should Padres manager Craig Stammen need to go to that group early. The hope is that King can give the team some length in his outing, but if he is unable to do so, everyone should be available to cover the remaining innings after the off day on Monday.
