San Diego @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2018 ) Colorado 0, San Diego 4

The Colorado Rockies are one of the hottest teams in baseball with wins in eight of their last nine games and are nipping at the heels of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West. The Rockies will try to avoid a letdown after a dramatic road trip when they return home to host the last-place San Diego Padres on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.

Colorado started its recent run by taking three of four from the Los Angeles Dodgers and split a pair at American League West-leading Houston before sweeping a four-game set over the weekend at NL East-leading Atlanta. "Talking doesn't get it done, it's the way these guys are playing," third baseman Nolan Arenado told reporters of his teammates Sunday after the Rockies remained a half-game behind first-place Arizona. "Everybody's contributing - starting pitching, bullpen, defense, offense. I think the offense can probably do a little bit better job, but we're finding a way. And our pitchers are keeping us in games." Colorado finished up a stretch of 46 straight games against teams .500 or better Sunday and will take on Padres club that lost six of its last seven, including three of four to the Diamondbacks over the weekend, to fall to 49-78. San Diego will try to cool Colorado behind left-hander Robbie Erlin while the Rockies counter with lefty Tyler Anderson.


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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Robbie Erlin (2-3, 3.33 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (6-5, 4.39)

Erlin is making a smooth transition into the starting rotation and allowed a total of five earned runs over 16 innings in three starts this month. The 27-year-old stays around the plate and issued a total of eight walks in 75 2/3 innings this season. Erlin made four relief appearances against Arizona earlier this season and surrendered a total of one run and four hits while walking one and striking out six in 6 2/3 innings.

Anderson is winless in his last seven turns and was crushed by Houston on Wednesday, when he surrendered nine runs on seven hits - three homers - and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. The Oregon product also yielded three home runs in a loss at Milwaukee on Aug. 4 and is second in the NL with 24 homers allowed. Anderson is making his fourth start against San Diego this season and went 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA and one home run allowed in the first three chances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies LHP Mike Dunn (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday.

2. San Diego RF Hunter Renfroe left Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch in the forearm but x-rays came back negative and he is day-to-day.

3. Colorado SS Trevor Story hit his 26th home run Sunday and needs one more to match his career high, set in 2016.

PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Padres 2