San Diego @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2013 ) Colorado 2, San Diego 1

The Colorado Rockies will try to continue their hot hitting when they host the San Diego Padres on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. The Rockies exploded for 20 hits Wednesday - including six home runs - in a 12-4 victory at Cincinnati, keeping them within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. The Padres ended a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving them seven games back in the West.

Padres third baseman Chase Headley should feel right at home. He grew up about 90 miles from Coors Field in Fountain, Colo., where he was a three-time all-state baseball player in high school and played two seasons with the Rockies select scout team. He is hitting .315 in his career at Coors Field with four homers in 162 at-bats. Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez swatted three home runs Wednesday while shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went 5-for-5 with two homers.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, Root Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Andrew Cashner (4-3, 3.65 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.26)

Cashner was unbeaten in four straight starts until losing his last outing against the Seattle Mariners, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings in the 7-1 loss. Those numbers were better than in his previous start against the Diamondbacks, but the Padres supported him with 10 runs in that victory. Cashner has walked two batters in the last 30 2/3 innings, but has struggled at Coors Field, issuing eight runs and three homers in four innings of relief.

Chacin is seeking his first win since April 19, shortly before he went on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury. Since his return May 5, he is 0-3 with a 6.14 ERA, but is 4-1 in his career against San Diego with a 2.70 ERA. The top three hitters for the Padres, Chris Denorfia, Yonder Alonso and Everth Cabrera, are a combined 5-for-27 in their careers off Chacin.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies are 6-0 against the Padres this season.

2. Rockies OF Dexter Fowler missed Wednesday’s game because of illness, but is expected to be available for the four-game series.

3. Padres C Yasmani Grandal is 3-for-27 since coming off his 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Padres 2