Rockies Line-up: April 18 2012: Even Tulo Needs a Day Off

Juan Nicasio and Clayton Richard face off tonight as the Rockies look to win their second straight series and climb back up to the .500 mark. Nicasio is looking to rebound from his last start in which he walked five batters in 2 2/3 innings, including three in a row in the first inning on Friday night against the Diamondbacks. This will be his third career start against San Diego as he went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two games as a rookie in 2011.

Clayton Richard comes in with a 1-0 record and a 2.77 ERA in 2012, but has struggled against the Rockies in his career, bringing a 1-3 record into tonight, including 0-2 with a 7.89 ERA over 4 starts at Coors Field.

Troy Tulowitzki gets his first day off of 2012 despite a career .533 (8-15) average against Clayton Richard. Tulo is fighting a 1-14 slump over his last 4 games, as well as committing as many errors (6) over the first 11 games as he did all of 2011. Marco Scutaro will move over to shortstop while Jonny Herrera starts at second. Michael Cuddyer is now the lone Rockies player to start every game of 2012 and is leading the league with 7 doubles.

Marco Scutaro SS
Dexter Fowler CF
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Michael Cuddyer RF
Todd Helton 1B
Wilin Rosario C
Chris Nelson 3B
Jonathan Herrera 2B
Juan Nicasio P

Chris Denorfia gets the start in right after going 4-4 and scoring a run last night, and Orlando Hudson gets his first start of the series, full Padres line-up below:

Will Venable CF
Chris Denorfia RF
Chase Headley 3B
Jesus Guzman LF
Yonder Alonso 1B
Nick Hundley C
Jason Bartlett SS
Orlando Hudson 2B
Clayton Richard P