The San Diego Padres (29-33) take one of the lightest-hitting offenses in the NL on the road to face the Colorado Rockies (26-38) at Coors Field on Friday for the opener of a three-game series.
The Padres are heading on the road after a six-game homestand (3-3). They split their last series against the Mariners, taking the finale 10-3 on Wednesday at Petco Park.
Juan Soto was 5 for 5 with a double, one run, and four RBIs. Gary Sanchez added a home run and a double. He scored two runs and had three RBIs.
The Rockies are amid a six-game homestand. They were just swept in three games against the Giants, dropping the finale 6-4 on Thursday at Coors Field for their fourth straight loss. Nolan Jones went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The NL West rivals have split their games this season 2-2, as the Padres evened the season series with a 3-1 victory in their most recent meeting on April 2 at Petco Park.
Starter Seth Lugo got the win, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings and striking out seven, and Josh Hader picked up his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Yu Darvish (4-4, 4.10 ERA) is in line to start for San Diego. The RHP threw seven scoreless innings in his last start, a 6-0 road win over the Cubs on Saturday. He was credited with the win, giving up two hits while striking out nine and walking one.
Darvish is making his first appearance against the Rockies this season. Over two starts against the Rockies in 2022, Darvish was 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA over 12 innings. He had 15 strikeouts and three walks.
For Colorado, lefty Austin Gomber (4-4, 6.99 ERA) will take the mound. He has made one prior start against the Padres this season, giving up three runs over six innings in a 3-1 road defeat on April 2.
He gave up four hits and walked one while striking out four in the loss. In his last start on Saturday, Gomber took a no-decision on the road against the Royals. He threw 2.2 innings and gave up two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking three in the 6-4 win.
AT THE PLATE
The San Diego offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game for the season, the third lowest in the NL, with a slash line of .225/.315/.384. Soto leads the team in OPS at .905. The right fielder is slashing .265/.422/.483 with 10 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 33 runs over 62 games.
Against lefties like Gomber this season, the Padres have a .748 OPS. Trent Grisham is the team’s best performer against left-handers with a .964 OPS in 47 at-bats. Colorado is slashing .259/.318/.404 for the season and averaging 4.5 runs per game.
Elias Diaz leads the team with a .830 OPS. The catcher has six home runs, 29 RBIs, and 21 runs scored with a slash line of .304/.363/.467. The Rockies have a .743 OPS against righties in 2023. With a .908 OPS over 139 at-bats, Diaz also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
San Diego is 14-15 away from Petco Park in 2023, scoring 4.3 runs per game while allowing 4.1 runs. Colorado has lost three in a row at home.
The Rockies are 15-17 at home this season, averaging 5.2 runs per game while surrendering 6.4. Colorado is 7-3 in the last 10 games between the teams at Coors Field with an average scoreline of 6.4-5.6.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Padres are fourth in the NL West, eight games behind the division-leading Diamondbacks. The Rockies are fifth in the NL West, 11 games behind the Diamondbacks.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
