The San Diego Padres Open Up Seven-Game Trip with Three In Colorado

May 30, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (22) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

After a disappointing loss snapped a win streak last weekend, the San Diego Padres have lost two in a row and will look to regain their form as they open up a road trip with a 5:40 first pitch against the Colorado Rockies.

With the two losses the Padres are now back to an even 5-5 over their last 10 games and have slipped back to 10 games below the .500 mark at 39-49. The Rockies meanwhile have won just two of their last 10 games and sit at 37-52.

Ian Kennedy (6-9, 3.87) will take the hill for the Padres against Colorado’s Tyler Matzek (1-2, 4.25)

The lefty Matzek, a rookie with five starts under his belt, won his first major league decision in his first start back on the June 11. Since then he is 0-2 with two straight no decisions in his next four starts. He has pitched well in the two no decisions, completing six innings at Milwaukee on June 27 and pitching into the seventh inning at Washington his last time out on July 2. Over his last 12.1 innings Matzek has allowed just four runs on 11 hits while striking out 9.

Kennedy, in 16 lifetime appearances against Colorado, is 3-4 against the Rockies with a sparkling 2.88 ERA and 93 strike outs in 97 innings pitched. He has not beaten Colorado in his last five starts however, dating back to October of 2012. Kennedy has won just one time in his last 5 starts, allowing 17 runs over 29.2 innings pitched. The win came in his last outing when he scattered seven hits over six innings against the Reds and allowed just a single run.

The Padres pitching staff will be tested in the four games in Colorado, and not just by the Coors Field spacious outfield and altitude. Along with having the hitter with baseball’s highest average in shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies come in with one of the best scoring offenses in baseball. However, on the flip side, Colorado has allowed an MLB worst 5.27 runs per game this season, opening the door perhaps for the struggling Padres, who are still at the bottom of baseball in runs scored at just under 3 per game.

This will be game number eight for the Padres against the Rockies. Colorado won four of the first seven including the last match-up, an 8-6 extra inning win for the Rockies. Colorado won last season’s series 12-7 and lead the all time series 182-165.

After Monday evening, the Padres will have another evening affair at 5:40 Tuesday before a getaway day 12:10 game on Wednesday. The Padres head to LA for their last four games before the All Star Break. The first game against the Dodgers Thursday is slated for 7:10.