Series Preview: Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres

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May 3, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder M. Kemp (center) nudges left fielder J. Upton (10) after Upton drove Kemp in with a two run home run during the first inning as Colorado Rockies catcher M. McKenry (left, foreground) watches at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies come back from a nice four-day break with a three-game series in San Diego against the struggling Padres.

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The Colorado Rockies return from the All Star Break having won four straight games in a series sweep over the Atlanta Braves, before getting four days off for the All Star Game and Home Run Derby (and you bet your behind we enjoyed a few days off, too!).

Well, welcome back now! The Rockies are in San Diego beginning tonight for a three-game set over the weekend. The Padres are having a bad year relative to their expectations coming into the season, so the next two weeks may be even more interesting for them in terms of player movement than for Colorado.

As always, here are your probable pitchers, along with some keys for the Rockies as they look to win a series, and some info on the Padres.

DATES, TIMES, AND PITCHERS (all times MT)

Friday, July 17, 8:10 pm
Jorge De La Rosa (6-3, 4.34) vs. James Shields (7-3, 4.01)

Saturday, July 18, 6:40 pm
Chad Bettis (5-4, 4.91) vs. Tyson Ross (6-7, 3.34)

Sunday, July 19, 2:10 pm
To Be Announced vs. Andrew Cashner (3-10, 4.10)

Next: Three Keys For The Rockies

Jul 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop T. Tulowitzki (2) fields a ball during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. The Rockies won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

SERIES KEYS FOR THE ROCKIES

Good luck keeping up the momentum

The Rockies surprised everybody with, at fourteen games under .500, a four-game sweep of the nearly-.500 Atlanta Braves right before the All Star Break. So how do we celebrate this? Four days off! Yay!

Off days aren’t awful things, but they are momentum killers. Especially on the road, good luck Rockies getting back into the swing of things against a club that’s going to throw some pretty decent arms at the Rox over the weekend. But hey, I never ever thought the Rockies would sweep a four-game series, and yet, here we are!

Trade deadline time!

This is where things are going to get interesting… obviously, you can make the case that the Rockies should trade any/all of a lot of options this summer: Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, Wilin Rosario, DJ LeMahieu, Nick Hundley, ok let’s be honest pretty much everybody but Nolan Arenado. Who will get traded? Who sticks around? Will the Rockies make any moves? Stay tuned to find out!

Take advantage of the Padres’ struggles

The Padres limped into the All Star Break, and if the Rockies weep San Diego this weekend (ha), Colorado climbs out of last place in the NL West and the Padres will take over the cellar. I don’t think that’s going to happen, but San Diego has had an awful season, and hey, why couldn’t weird stuff like that happen? Stranger things have happened in the past… like… when the Rockies swept a four-game series in Denver… yeah.

Next: Let's Meet The San Diego Padres

Jul 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Y. Solarte (26) reacts to being hit by a pitch as he attempted to bunt in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s Meet The Padres

The Padres are having a very, very bad season — relative to their pre-season expectations and roster moves — and the past few weeks have been a struggle for a club that’s already fired their manager and is rumored to be shopping several players they just acquired over the winter (and/or in April).

Reading up about the Padres is pretty interesting, so here are a couple of things you need to know about the club as the Rockies take them on over the weekend:

Teardown artist (Grantland).
This is something to read — it ought to be required reading — for a lot of Rockies fans. Not every flashy move has substance behind it, and sometimes, flashy moves aren’t the moves to make. Grantland takes down Padres’ GM A.J. Preller with a really interesting piece here.

James Shields isn’t the answer and the Padres are in trouble (CaliSports News).
This is from back in February, but damn is it telling… The Padres still desperately need a shortstop that they haven’t yet acquired. Clint Barmes and Alexi Amarista aren’t gonna get it done for a playoff team, so… it’s time to make a move in San Diego.

How the Padres should attack the trade deadline (SBNation).
More on the Padres’ and their trade deadline hopes, including an insight into how the Friars are like a dead possum.

Ok. Rockies, Padres, game 89 on the year — and game one of the second half — starts tonight. Join us!

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