San Diego @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2018 ) San Diego 4, Colorado 3

The Colorado Rockies' quest for a division title stalled in the series opener, but they attempt to get back on track when they host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. After sweeping a four-game series in Atlanta to get within one-half game of first-place Arizona in the National League West, Colorado returned home and dropped a 4-3 decision on Tuesday.

Chris Iannetta homered while DJ LeMahieu went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Rockies, who erased a 3-0 deficit before losing for just the second time in 10 contests. LeMahieu is riding an eight-game hitting streak during which he has gone 13-for-36 and a four-game RBI streak that has seen him drive in five runs for the Rockies, who are one-half game out for the NL's second wild card. The Padres took a three-run lead after two innings but let it slip away before Austin Hedges belted a solo homer in the sixth inning to give the club its second win in eight games. Eric Hosmer has been swinging a hot bat for San Diego, going 13-for-35 with three homers and eight RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak that has featured four multi-hit performances.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jacob Nix (1-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (9-7, 4.76)

Nix's second career start did not go as well as his major-league debut, as he surrendered five runs on five hits and two walks while retiring only two batters in a loss to Arizona on Thursday. The 22-year-old Californian scattered four hits over six scoreless frames in a win over Philadelphia on Aug. 10 in his first outing. Nix has made 10 combined starts in Double- and Triple-A this season, going 3-3 with a 1.84 ERA.

Gray's unbeaten streak reached nine starts on Thursday, when he allowed three runs and five hits over seven innings in a no-decision at Atlanta. The 26-year-old native of Oklahoma has gone 3-0 with a 3.55 ERA since losing at Philadelphia on June 12. Gray has faced San Diego more than any other team in his career and has posted a 6-3 record with a 2.65 ERA and his lone shutout in 13 starts - including three this season in which he went 2-1 while registering 24 strikeouts in 18 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado, who enters Wednesday with a seven-game hitting streak, needs 13 RBIs to reach 100 for the fourth straight season.

2. San Diego INF Christian Villanueva (foot) was back in the starting lineup Tuesday after being relegated to pinch-hitting duties for two games and went 1-for-4.

3. Colorado sent LHP Mike Dunn (back/AC joint), who hasn't pitched since July 3, to Triple-A Albuquerque for a rehab assignment.

PREDICTION: Rockies 9, Padres 3