The Rockies are beginning a three game series against the last place San Diego Padres tonight. They will be looking to have more luck in this series then they had against the Diamondbacks over the last three days. They were swept by the Diamondbacks and went from 2.5 games out of first place to now being 5.5 games out with seven games left before the All Star break. The Rockies offense faltered over the last three games as they managed to score only two runs in the three game series while their pitching staff did not do much better as they allowed 22 runs in the series. The Rockies are hoping to have more luck taking on the Padres who have lost nine games in a row coming into the series opener tonight. The Rockies record on the road is now 16-26. They have lost 14 of their last 19 games. Prior to that they were 5 games over .500.
The Rockies will be sending Tyler Chatwood to the mound tonight to face off against the Padres offense. On the year Chatwood is 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 10 games started on the year. He was roughed up in his last start at home against the Dodgers. He finished the game going five innings allowing 11 hits, six runs (five earned), no walks and had only one strikeout. He took the loss in the game and it raised his ERA from 2.13 to 2.75. This was the worst start of the year for Chatwood as he gave up the most hits and runs that he has given up all year and he also tied his season low for strikeouts. He was getting the ball around the plate but he left too many pitches up and the Dodgers hitters made him pay for those mistakes. Chatwood has been great on the road this year as he has a 2-1 record with a stellar 0.82 ERA on four starts. He has gone a combined 22 innings allowing just 17 hits, two runs, no home runs, four walks and has struck out 17 hitters. Opponents are hitting just .218 against him this year on the road. The history between Chatwood and current Padres players is very limited but it favors the Padres hitters as they have been able to hit for a .400 average against him in 30 at bats. Carlos Quentin has had two hits in six at bats against Chatwood but both hits are home runs. This will be his first start against the Padres this year for Chatwood. He is a different pitcher this year for the Rockies and he has been able to keep opposing teams at bay offensively. If he can keep the ball low in the zone and work ahead of hitters then he has a good chance of ending the Rockies three game losing streak tonight.
The Padres will be sending Edison Volquez to face off against the Rockies offense. Volquez has had an up and down year with a record of 6-6 and a very high 5.26 ERA. He has been pitching better recently as he has given up less than three earned runs in each of his last five starts and is 2-1 over that same span. In his last start against the Boston Red Sox, Volquez took a no decision despite pitching well in the game. He went seven innings allowing seven hits, one run, one walk and struck out six batters. At home this year, he has a 3-4 record with a 4.73 ERA. This will be his fourth start against the Rockies this year. His previous three starts have all gone the way of the Rockies as Volquez has an 0-2 record with a 14.66 ERA. He took the loss in back to back starts against the Rockies on April 7th and April 13th as he allowed 15 hits, and 10 runs on a combined 9 1/3rd innings of work. His last start against the Rockies was his worst start on the year. On June 7th he faced the talented offense and lasted only 2 1/3rd innings allowing 11 hits, nine runs, two walks and struck out one. He took a no decision in the game as San Diego fought back and tied the game up in the seventh inning but it was all for not as Nolan Arenado hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Rockies home a winner. Current Rockies players are hitting .376 against Volquez with four home runs and 26 RBI in 109 combined at bats. Volquez has always been a pitcher that has great stuff but has had trouble finding the strike zone at times. If the Rockies hitters can be patient at the plate and not swing at pitches out of the zone, then they have a good chance of making Volquez throw a mistake and then they will be able to have a good night offensively.
The Padres lineup for the game tonight is as follows:
1. Everth Cabrera, SS
2. Alexi Amarista, CF
3. Chase Headley, 3B
4. Carlos Quentin, LF
5. Jesus Guzman, 1B
6. Logan Forsythe, 2B
7. Will Venable, RF
8. Rene Rivera, C
9. Edison Volquez, P
The Rockies lineup for the game tonight is as follows:
1. Corey Dickerson, LF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Michael Cuddyer, RF
4. Wilin Rosario, C
5. Todd Helton, 1B
6. Nolan Arenado, 3B
7. Tyler Colvin, CF
8. Jonathan Herrera, SS
9. Tyler Chatwood, P
First pitch for the game tonight is at 8:10 PM Mountain time. Carlos Gonzalez is day to day with a sprained middle finger on his right hand. Roy Oswalt's injury is currently being called a strained right hamstring but they are waiting to do an MRI so they can better classify the injury.
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