Padres at Rockies
A pair of rookie right-handers face the daunting task of slowing down an offensive assault on Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies host the San Diego Padres on Sunday in the finale of their four-game series. The teams have combined for 65 runs, 13 homers, 97 hits and 24 walks in the series with San Diego's Nick Margevicius already 0-2 with a 10.00 ERA versus Colorado this season, while the Rockies' Peter Lambert seeks a third straight victory to start his career.
Colorado (37-33) is a strong contender to earn a third straight National League wild-card berth despite a 5.14 ERA - one of six teams with a number more than 5.00 - while saddled with the worst starters' ERA (5.71) in baseball. Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon on Saturday became the first player in club history to record four hits in three straight contests and boasts a 26-game on-base streak - the longest active run in the majors - and has reached in all 25 of his home contests this season. Rockies center fielder Ian Desmond tries to homer in his third straight game after belting his fourth career grand slam Saturday as part of a career high-tying five RBIs and delivering a three-run inside-the-park homer Friday. San Diego's Manny Machado is 9-for-15 with three home runs, five RBIs and eight runs scored in the series after getting ejected following his third at-bat Saturday for arguing a called third strike during the Padres' sixth loss in their last seven games.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Nick Margevicius (2-6, 5.02 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Peter Lambert (2-0, 1.50)
Margevicius was pulled after 3 2/3 shutout innings in San Diego's 5-4 victory over Washington after allowing three hits with three strikeouts. The Ohio native, who turns 23 on Tuesday, yielded five runs in each of his two losses against Colorado - 10-7 on May 12 at Coors Field and 8-2 on April 16 in his fourth career start. Margevicius is 0-4 with a 6.33 ERA over his last six starts and has never pitched more than six innings at the big-league level.
Lambert permitted one run in each of his first two starts - both against the Chicago Cubs - allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out 12 over 12 innings in a 10-3 win Tuesday and a 3-1 victory at Chicago on June 6. “His demeanor lends to his success and to his approach, because he’s pretty laid back as an individual,” Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta told reporters about the 22-year-old Californian. “He’s pretty cerebral. He knows what he’s trying to do out there. And he has a really good understanding of his body and his mechanics. He has a plan of attack, and he has great command on top of that and that really helps.'' Lambert, a second-round pick in 2015, was 26-29 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 97 minor league games - all starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado LF David Dahl (.338) is 9-for-18 with seven RBIs and six runs scored in his last four games.
2. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer (.285) has 10 RBIs in his last five contests and an eight-game hitting streak that raised his average two points.
3. The Rockies on Saturday optioned top prospect 2B Brendan Rodgers (.246, seven RBIs in 21 games) to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled RHP Jesus Tinoco.