Padres Head To Mile High City For Weekend

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Aug 7, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder

Carlos Gonzalez

(5) hits a grand slam off Washington Nationals relief pitcher

Drew Storen

(not pictured) during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Rockies won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres (54-61) start a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies (47-65) on Friday. The Padres won their series against the Reds but squandered an opportunity to complete the sweep on Sunday. That series was not short of offense as the Padres outscored the Reds 16-14 in the three games.

The Rockies are coming off being swept by the New York Mets and only mustered two runs in the three games. The Rockies are the only team lower than the Padres in the NL West standings.

In injury news, Cory Spangenberg is still rehabbing now in Triple-A. He is 2 for 9 in two games since moving up to Triple-A. No word on his return to the big club. Wil Myers should be swinging a bat any day now. Brandon Morrow looks like he is done for the year.

Aug 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder

Justin Upton

(10) hits a two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1 Friday, 5:40pm

Tyson Ross (8-9, 3.39 ERA) vs. Yohan Flande (2-1, 3.86 ERA)

Ross lost his last start against the Phillies when he allowed three runs in 7 innings. He leads the league in walks with 64. He has struggled against the Rockies with an 0-5 record and 3.35 ERA in 7 starts.

Flande had a short start against the Nationals due to appearing in a long extra inning game the night before. He went 4 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs. He is yet to pitch 6 innings this season. He is 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts against the Padres.

Offensive Player to Watch: Carlos Gonzalez

“CarGo” has caught fire since the All-Star break. He has hit 13 home runs in 23 games and has hit .333 in the process with a 1.226 OPS. He has 7 plate appearances against Tyson Ross with a .143.

Game 2 Saturday, 5:10pm

Andrew Cashner (4-12, 4.09 ERA) vs. Jon Gray (0-0, 2.70 ERA)

Cashner has struggled in his last four starts, allowing 15 earned runs in that span. He has won just one start since June. He has a 4.50 ERA in five career starts against Colorado. His ERA balloons to 7.00 in two appearances at Coors Field.

Gray has just two major league starts under his belt. In his first start against the Mariners, he went four innings and allowed two earned runs while walking two and striking out four. His last start against the Mets was a lot better, going six innings allowing one hit and one run and striking out five.

Offensive Player to Watch: Justin Upton

Upton has gotten hot again. In the past week he is hitting .333 with two home runs and six RBI with five walks. Lifetime he is hitting .299 with 22 home runs against the Rockies. He has 8 career dingers at Coors Field.

Game 3 Sunday, 1:10pm

Ian Kennedy (7-10, 4.37 ERA) vs. Chris Rusin (3-5, 4.43 ERA)

Kennedy got the win against the Reds his last time out despite walking six. He has actually pitched well at Coors Field. In 8 starts he has a 3.24 ERA with a 2-2 record. He has a 2.87 ERA lifetime against the Rockies.

Rusin is pitching in his 4th year in the major and his first with the Rockies. In his only career start against the Padres, he pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings in 2013.

Offensive Player to Watch: DJ Lemahieu

Lemahieu was an All-Star for the first time in his career this year. He is hitting .319. He has faced Kennedy 20 times and is hitting .400 with a home run and four RBI.

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