Rival teams in the National League West are set to clash in a three-game series starting Friday night, as the San Diego Padres (69-53, 3rd NL West) face off against the Colorado Rockies (44-78, 5th NL West). Both teams had a break on Thursday before this matchup. The Padres come into the series riding high after completing a sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Rockies are looking to bounce back after being swept in Arizona by the Diamondbacks. Interestingly, Colorado currently leads the season series against San Diego 6-4. Matt Waldron (4.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Padres, while the Rockies will counter with Cal Quantrill (4.56 ERA). Fans can expect the first pitch at 8:40 EST from Coors Field in Denver.
Sporting Insights for MLB Picks!
Padres’ Momentum After Sweeping the Pirates
The Padres have been on a roll, winning all six matchups against the Pirates in the last two weeks. Remarkably, they have claimed ten victories in their last eleven games but remain in third place in their division. Tied with the Diamondbacks, the Padres are just two games back from the Dodgers, who have led most of the season. Jake Cronenworth made headlines in Wednesday’s game with a home run, marking his first since July 20th.
“I feel good. I didn’t have the greatest month last month, but I feel like I was still finding a way to get on base,” Cronenworth remarked post-game. He has played both first and second base but took the designated hitter slot against the Pirates, accumulating 15 home runs and 70 RBIs this season. Jurickson Profar leads the team with 19 home runs and is also their top run producer with 72 RBIs while boasting an impressive .295 batting average. Meanwhile, rookie Jackson Merrill contributed two RBIs in Wednesday’s game, showcasing his strong debut season with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs from the sixth spot in the lineup.
Matt Waldron, the 27-year-old right-hander, is set to make his 25th start this season. He holds a 7-9 record, and the Padres have secured victories in his last four appearances. With an ERA of 4.00, he has recorded 121 strikeouts against 38 walks and allowed 16 home runs. In his previous outing, Waldron pitched 4.1 innings and gave up five earned runs while still earning the win against the Marlins.
Rockies Seek Redemption After Arizona Sweep
In stark contrast, the Rockies have struggled recently, suffering a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks. The team finds itself a staggering 27 games behind the Dodgers in the division and far from playoff contention. With their season winding down, Colorado aims to play spoiler against the Padres, who are vying for a postseason spot. In Wednesday’s game, Brenton Doyle managed two hits, but the Rockies fell to Arizona, 11-4.
In the three-game series against the Diamondbacks, Colorado was outscored 20-11, with two of the losses coming by just one run. Despite the setbacks, they managed to cover the runline in those games, though they have now lost six of their last eight. Brenton Doyle, the center fielder, leads the Rockies with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs, hitting .266 this season. Ryan McMahon was absent on Wednesday after a lackluster performance in the first two games against the D-Backs, holding 16 home runs and 53 RBIs this year. Ezequiel Tovar, the young shortstop, leads off for the Rockies, boasting 19 home runs and 55 RBIs while batting .273.
Cal Quantrill, a 29-year-old right-hander, is slated to make his 24th start in this matchup. With a record of 7-8, the Rockies have lost his last two starts. His ERA stands at 4.56, complemented by 92 strikeouts against 48 walks and 17 home runs yielded this season. In his last start, Quantrill pitched four innings, surrendering three earned runs in a loss to the Padres.
Analyzing Best Bets for Padres vs. Rockies
The Padres are riding a wave of momentum, but they face stiff competition from the Diamondbacks in the standings. San Diego is eager to maintain pressure on the division leaders and has a favorable matchup against the Rockies. Waldron has faced Colorado twice this season, yielding impressive results with only two earned runs over 11.2 innings, translating to an excellent 1.54 ERA. In contrast, Quantrill has struggled against the Padres, with an ERA of 3.48 in their previous encounters. After dropping three consecutive games to the Diamondbacks, the Rockies’ outlook appears grim, as they currently hold the worst record in the National League. Taking a chance on the Padres to cover the runline at -120 seems like a wise bet.
