Rockies at Padres
The San Diego Padres face the visiting Colorado Rockies on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series between two of the worst teams in the majors, but it's hardly a meaningless contest for Manny Machado. The four-time All-Star is intent on finishing his first season with San Diego strong and laying the foundation for a playoff run next year.
Wil Myers and Machado each homered in Saturday’s 3-0 victory and Joey Lucchesi tossed six strong innings for the Padres, who snapped a four-game losing streak. “Until the last out is made in the season, we need to keep grinding it out,” Machado told reporters. “It’s a matter of playing it out and not taking these last games for granted. Because come next year we’re going to be playing for something around this time.” Colorado was held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in its last 11 games. Nolan Arenado saw his 12-game hitting streak come to an end, but Trevor Story went 1-for-4 from the leadoff spot and is batting .358 since Aug. 2.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Peter Lambert (2-6, 7.19 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (8-8, 4.55)
Lambert lost his sixth straight decision after giving up six runs on eight hits over 1 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. “I didn’t have my A-game,” he told reporters. “They had some big hits and got it going. The season is a grind and I have to keep grinding it out.” The 22-year-old rookie, who owns a 50-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 16 starts, allowed eight runs over three frames against San Diego on June 16.
Lauer won his second straight start last Sunday, allowing four runs with a career-high nine strikeouts over six innings versus San Francisco. The 24-year-old native of Ohio has struck out 17 batters over his past two starts while throwing at least 108 pitches in both outings. Charlie Blackmon is 8-for-13 with a home run against Lauer, who is 0-3 with an 11.21 ERA in five career starts versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego has won six of its last nine meetings against the Rockies.
2. The Rockies recalled RHP Rico Garcia from Triple-A Albuquerque, giving the team 14 relievers on the active roster.
3. San Diego is hopeful that C Francisco Mejía (strained right oblique) will return before the end of the season.