Rockies at Padres
The San Diego Padres ascended to the top of the National League West after winning seven of their 10 contests on their just-completed road trip. The Padres return to Southern California to begin an eight-game homestand, starting with Monday's opener of an abbreviated two-game series versus the Colorado Rockies.
Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. pushed his home run total to five by going deep for the second straight contest on Sunday, but San Diego saw its four-game winning streak halted with an 8-4 setback against Arizona. Manuel Margot also homered to give him four hits in two contests and 12 in his last nine heading into the tilt versus Colorado, against which he went 9-for-52 with 11 strikeouts last season. The Rockies snapped an eight-game skid in near-epic fashion, as German Marquez's bid for the second no-hitter in franchise history was dashed in the eighth inning of Sunday's 4-0 victory versus San Francisco. Nolan Arenado belted a three-run shot on Sunday, marking the first time he's gone deep this season after leading the club in homers in each of the previous four years.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (2018: 6-6, 4.38 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (2-1, 4.40)
Although manager Bud Black did not disclose a starter for Monday's game, multiple outlets reported that Senzatela appears to be the likely candidate after rejoining the team following a two-inning performance in his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday. The 24-year-old Venezuelan split a pair of decisions among his five appearances against San Diego last year, allowing seven runs on 15 hits - including three homers - in 13 1/3 innings. Joe Panik is a blistering 8-for-18 with two homers in his career versus Senzatela, although the hurler has gotten the better of Buster Posey (1-for-8) and Brandon Crawford (2-for-15).
Lucchesi answered a pair of stellar outings with a disastrous one on Tuesday, seeing his scoreless innings streak extend to 11 after retiring the side in the first before being torched for six runs in the second. The 25-year-old lasted four innings, allowing seven runs on as many hits in a 7-2 setback at San Francisco. Lucchesi limited Colorado to a .208 batting average and recorded 23 strikeouts in 22 innings en route to posting a 1-0 mark in four starts versus the club during his rookie season in 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado CF Charlie Blackmon went 23-for-69 with 12 runs scored versus San Diego last season.
2. Padres SS Manny Machado has two homers and four runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
3. Colorado SS Trevor Story is 6-for-19 during his four-game hitting streak.