San Diego @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2013 ) Colorado 5, San Diego 4
The Colorado Rockies attempt to make it four victories in a row when they host the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series Monday. Colorado halted a five-game slide by routing the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday and went on to win a pair of close contests with the National League Central leaders to complete its first series sweep since mid-April. The Rockies look to post their longest winning streak since capturing eight in a row from April 12-20.
San Diego is coming off its fourth loss in five games as it dropped a 3-2 decision at Cincinnati in 13 innings Sunday. The Padres took an early 2-0 lead, but pinch-hitter Xavier Paul belted a two-run homer for the Reds in the eighth and Joey Votto lifted a walk-off sacrifice fly five frames later. Colorado is one game ahead of San Diego in the NL West but 11 behind Cincinnati for the second wild-card spot.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego), ROOT (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Edinson Volquez (8-9, 5.44 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (10-6, 3.30)
Volquez produced his fourth straight strong start last Tuesday but came away with his first loss in that span despite allowing just two runs over six innings against the Baltimore Orioles. The 30-year-old Dominican has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 11 outings. Volquez is 3-6 with a 7.00 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rockies and 0-3 in four outings this season.
Chacin also was a hard-luck loser his last time out, falling to the Mets in New York after yielding two runs in seven innings on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Venezuelan has been even more effective than Volquez of late, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts. Chacin is 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 11 career games (eight starts) versus San Diego and 2-1 in four outings this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chacin allowed one run over six innings at San Diego on July 9 but suffered the loss.
2. Padres OF Jaff Decker made his first major-league start Sunday, playing left field and going 0-for-3 at the plate.
3. Colorado All-Star OF Michael Cuddyer sat out Sunday's victory with an illness.
PREDICTION: Rockies 4, Padres 2