San Diego @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2013 ) San Diego 9, Colorado 10

The Colorado Rockies have won three of their last four games, but their outfield depth is being severely tested through the first two games of their four-game series with the visiting San Diego Padres. Right fielder Michael Cuddyer suffered a strained rib-cage in Thursday's series opener and left fielder Carlos Gonzalez twisted his knee Friday after delivering two triples and three RBIs. The status of both players is unclear entering Saturday night's game.

San Diego has lost seven of eight matchups with the Rockies this season, but the Padres did not go quietly Friday, battling back from a six-run deficit to tie the game at 9-9 before losing on Nolan Arenado's walk-off homer. Kyle Blanks went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs in place of Yonder Alonso, who is expected to miss up to a month with a fractured bone in his right hand. Jedd Gyorko added a career-high four hits as the Padres tied a season high with 17 hits.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Stults (4-5, 3.74 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Jeff Francis (2-3, 6.00)

Stults is winless in his last three starts despite giving up three runs and striking out 15 over 15 innings in his last two outings. He was a 2-1 loser at the Los Angeles Dodgers last time out, and struck out 12 while allowing one run in eight innings in his previous outing. Stults is 1-0 with a 4.81 ERA in eight appearances (four starts) against Colorado.

Francis is expected to be activated off the 15-day disabled list to make the start in place of Tyler Chatwood (triceps). Francis suffered a left groin strain in his best outing against the Chicago Cubs on May 14, giving up one run on three hits while striking out a season-high seven. He was in danger of losing his rotation slot after going 0-3 in his previous six outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arenado joined Clint Barmes (2005) as the only rookies in franchise history with a walk-off homer.

2. San Diego has scored a combined 10 runs in Stults' last five starts.

3. Padres SS Everth Cabrera is batting .462 and has seven multi-hit games during an eight-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Padres 6, Rockies 3