San Diego @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2018 ) San Diego 2, Colorado 6

The Colorado Rockies' current surge has put them in the thick of the playoff race in the National League, and they look to remain there as they host the San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game series. Colorado dropped the opener of the set but bounced back to post its ninth win in 11 contests, a 6-2 triumph Wednesday.

Tony Wolters and Ian Desmond each tripled and drove in two runs for the Rockies, who are 1 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona in the NL West and a half-game back of Milwaukee for the second and final wild-card spot. Charlie Blackmon has recorded two hits in each of the first two games of the series while DJ LeMahieu enters Thursday with a nine-game hitting streak during which he has gone 14-for-40. Freddy Galvis belted a solo homer for San Diego, which managed only five hits as it lost for the seventh time in nine contests. Eric Hosmer was kept in check Wednesday as his hitting streak ended at nine games after an 0-for-4 performance that followed back-to-back two-hit efforts.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (6-7, 3.79 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (11-7, 2.96)

Lucchesi is coming off a loss to Arizona on Friday in which he surrendered five runs on nine hits and three walks over four innings. The 25-year-old Californian rookie has posted a 2.87 ERA in six turns on the road, a much better mark than the 4.26 he has registered over 13 home outings. Lucchesi has fared well in three starts against the Rockies this season, going 1-0 while allowing only three earned runs and 11 hits over 16 frames with the win coming at Coors Field.

Freeland has allowed fewer than three runs in four of his last five starts, posting a 3-0 record and 1.04 ERA in those outings. The 25-year-old native of Denver, who is 7-2 at home this year, has recorded 19 strikeouts over 13 innings in his last two turns - including a season-high 10 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing at home Aug. 11. Freeland is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) versus San Diego after scattering three hits over seven scoreless frames in a home victory April 24.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres INF Christian Villaneuva, who was kept out of the starting lineup for two games with a foot injury before returning Tuesday, sat out again Wednesday with a swollen finger suffered in the series opener.

2. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado, who enters the series finale with an eight-game hitting streak, needs 13 RBIs to reach 100 for the fourth straight season.

3. San Diego 3B Wil Myers was scratched from Wednesday's lineup after being hit in the face by a ground ball during batting practice and suffering a lacerated nose.

PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Padres 3