Padres Off To Mile High City

Apr 14, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) dives in ahead of the tag by San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (9) during the second inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres (20-22) start a 3-game series with the Colorado Rockies (23-19) in Denver on Friday. Hopefully the Padres have something left in the tank after playing a double-header in Cincinnati yesterday. This is the Padres’ first visit to Coors Field in2014.

Eric Stults (2-3, 5.03 ERA) takes the hill against the lefty Jorge De La Rosa (4-3, 4.81 ERA). Robbie Erlin (2-4, 4.22 ERA) looks to continue his recent stretch of quality starts when he faces Jordan Lyles (5-0, 2.66 ERA). Lyles has a 1.25 ERA at home which is impressive considering he pitches as Coors Field.

The finale of the series on Sunday features Andrew Cashner (2-5, 2.35 ERA) against Juan Nicasio (4-2, 3.77 ERA). Cashner pitched a solid game his last time out but is still looking for his first win since April 16th.

The Padres once again showed life offensively in Cincinnati (ignore Cueto’s freakish performance in Game 1 of the double-header). There was even a Yonder Alonso home run, which we have not seen in a calendar year.

The Padres lost 2 out of 3 in their last visit to Denver in August of last year. When the Rockies came into town in mid-April, the Padres split the series 2-2. The Rockies have lost 3 straight. In the past, the Padres have hit Game 1’s starter, De La Rosa well and are hitting .304 off of him this year.

Offensively, the Rockies have struggled of late but still have been stellar overall. They lead the league in average (.296) and home runs (58). Troy Tulowitzki is in the top 5 of all the Triple Crown categories, with a .391 average, 11 HR’s and 33 RBI.

The Padres have won 5 of their last 6 and look to win their second consecutive series on the road. Coors field is the perfect place for their bats to continue to heat up. The Friars hit three home runs Thursday night. Hopefully they can carry that into Coors Field to put it on the Rockies. I like the Padres’ chances in this series, seeing who we are throwing on the mound.