San Diego Padres Series Preview vs. Colorado Rockies

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Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Series Overview

The Padres (54-62) head home for a brief home series with the last-place Colorado Rockies (46-71). The Rockies just recently lost their series to the Diamondbacks and they have not won a series since July 25-27 against the Pirates. The Friars are coming off of a series win against the Pirates and a 3-2 road trip. The Rockies have struggled a lot this year and find themselves 20 games back of the first-place Dodgers. The last time the Rockies were at Petco Park, the two teams split the four game series. The Padres are 4-6 in the 10 games they have played against Colorado.

The Rockies have been banged up much of this year. In this series they will be without Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, 2013 All-Star Michael Cuddyer, starter Jhoulys Chacin and left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson. The Rockies are tied with the Rangers for the worst record in the MLB. Much of that is due to nagging injuries of key players. Because of so many injuries, the Padres will face a Rockies team that has had to draw from their minor league systems often this year. This series is the Padres’ to lose. They need to take advantage of a weakened Rockies lineup at Petco Park.

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Game One

Game 1 will feature Jesse Hahn (7-3, 2.28 ERA) and Jordan Lyles (6-1, 3.72 ERA). The rookie Hahn has established himself as a quality starter in the Padres’ rotation. His last start was not his best. The Twins got to him for 3 earned runs and he also walked 4 in 5.2 innings. This is the first time Hahn has faced the Rockies this year. Oddly, Hahn has a better road ERA (2.12) than at the comfy dimensions of Petco Park (2.43). He has won 3 of his last 4 starts.

Lyles has a new pitch he will throw at the Padres hitters on Monday. Lyles has faced the Padres twice already this year and is 0-1. He has allowed 9 earned runs in 8.1 innings against the Friars this year. He has been nagged by injuries and was roughed up in his first start back from the DL against the Cubs, going 6 innings but allowing 6 hits and 4 earned runs. Lyles has pitched better away from Coors Field this year, with a 3.60 road ERA compared to a 3.86 clip at home. His last start against the Padres was a brief one, allowing 6 earned runs and he was not able to get out of the 4^th inning.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Game Two

Game 2 will feature Cuban rookie Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3, 3.10 ERA) against the Rockies’ Dominican rookie Yohan Flande (0-4, 5.77 ERA). Despaigne has struggled in his last few starts. He has not won a start since June 29^th. He has allowed at least 4 runs in his last two starts. Walks have been an issue for him lately, as he has walked 9 in his last 3 starts. This is his first start against the Rockies. He has a 3.12 ERA at home this year, going 1-1 in 4 starts. He has pitched well against NL West opponents this year, going at least 6 innings in each start with a 2-1 record. He has struggled a bit since his almost-no-hitter, allowing 12 runs in 3 starts.

The lefty Flande’s major league career is only 6 starts old. He struggled out of the gate but in his last 2 starts, he has pitched at least 6 innings and only walked 2 in that stretch. On the road he has pitched well. In 3 road appearances he has a 3.29 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. He has had one start against a National League West team this year, he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits in 4.1 innings against the Dodgers.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Game Three

The finale will have Ian Kennedy (8-10, 3.51 ERA) and Tyler Matzek (2-7, 5.32 ERA). Kennedy is second on the team in strikeouts with 155, which also makes him 7^th in the National League. He has only allowed 5 runs in his last 3 starts and has struck out 13 in that span. In Kennedy’s last start against Colorado, he pitched 7 strong innings, striking out 9 and only allowing one run. He has faced the Rockies one other time this year, also going 7 innings in that start, striking out 7 and allowing 3 runs. He is 1-1 in those 2 starts. He is 3-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 12 starts at Petco Park this year.

The rookie Matzek has faced the Padres once this year already. The Friars roughed him up for 5 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings, tagging him with the loss. He has struggled lately as well. In his last two starts, he has allowed 11 total runs on 14 hits with 7 walks. He has lost 3 consecutive starts. He has not fared well against NL West teams, allowing 8 runs in 11 innings. He also has struggled on the road with a 6.00 ERA in 6 starts.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Seth Smith is coming off of yet another strong series, and he looks to raise his .291 average. Yonder Alonso and Yangervis Solarte also looked good for the Friars in Pittsburgh. Solarte is hitting .299 with 20 hits in 17 games since joining the Padres from New York.

The Rockies have a lot of offense on the DL, but still have some viable weapons. Charlie Blackmon leads the active roster with 14 HRs and a .285 batting average and is well on his way to a 20/20 season as he already has 20 stolen bases. Justin Morneau leads the team with 64 RBI and he is also hitting an impressive .318. Nolan Arenado is not to be trifled with either. When he is healthy, he is dangerous. He has 90 hits in 81 games, 27 of them doubles.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Series Prediction

The key to a series win will be the two rookie starters getting back on track. Hahn and Despaigne struggled in their last few starts; they look to bounce back in this series. If one or both can pitch like they have the last few months, this should be a series win for the Friars.

Series Preview: Rockies Enter Town To Battle Padres

Schedule