Colorado Rockies: Previewing the San Diego Series

The final nine home games of the season begin for the Colorado Rockies on Friday night with the San Diego Padres paying a visit to LoDo for three days.

Yes, it’s the Padres again, a team that has given the Colorado Rockies fits this season. Colorado spent last weekend in San Diego and came away with a split of the four-game series. Overall, the Rockies are 7-9 this season against the Padres. However, when the Rockies have lost, they’ve lost big. San Diego has scored 85 runs this season against Colorado’s 57.

Much of that damage came in San Diego’s first trip to Coors Field this season. The Padres spoiled Colorado’s home opener with a 13-6 victory then backed it up the next day with a 16-3 demolition.

It’s been feast or famine for the Rockies this season on offense against San Diego. The Rockies have 20 homers on the season versus the Padres but sport just an overall .228 average. They’ve also grounded into 17 double plays against the Padres, by far the most against any team.

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On Friday, Rockies fans will get to see former Colorado pitcher Christian Friedrich take the bump against Tyler Chatwood (11-9, 3.82 ERA). Friedrich has a 5-10 record and 4.67 ERA, yet threw the best game of his career in his last outing against the Rockies (of course) on September 10.

Saturday’s pitching matchup is expected to feature Colorado’s Jon Gray (9-8, 4.69 ERA) as he looks to reach double-digits in wins this season. He’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Edwin Jackson (4-5, 5.32 ERA).

In Sunday’s finale of not only the matchup series but also the regular season series against the Padres, Chad Bettis (12-7, 4.78 ERA) will look to continue his recent ways. In his last seven starts, he’s 3-1 with a 3.64 ERA. He allowed just two runs over seven innings in a September 11 Colorado extra-inning victory in San Diego. Opposing him will be Jarred Cosart (0-3, 5.16 ERA), who will be making his first start since September 7.

Players to watch

DJ LeMahieu — Colorado’s All-Star second baseman enters Friday batting .346, just .002 behind Washington’s Daniel Murphy for the National League lead in average. Over the past six games, LeMahieu has been hot. He’s logged a .440 average (11-for-25) with three RBI and six runs scored.

By the way, do you know who is third in the National League in batting right now? Charlie Blackmon with a .319 average. He’s hitting .400 over his last six games with four homers and six RBI.

Next: The 5 Biggest Games on Colorado's 2017 Schedule

Our prediction

The Rockies snap out of their funk and take two-out-of-three from the Padres at home.