Unlike playing the Dodgers or Giants, two teams that still have playoff chances, the Padres games this weekend are for good ol’ fashioned bragging rights. Being 6 1/2 games behind them in the NL West is as good of a goal as any, battling it out for last place as good as it gets at this point.
Tonight is the first game of this 3-game home series against the San Diego. This is the fourth game on Colorado’s 7-day, 6-game homestand vs. LAD (2-1, 8/27-29) and vs. SD (8/31-9/2). Despite the loss to LA on Wednesday, Colorado still earned the series win, their third-straight series win against the Dodgers. The Rox are still 7-3 in their last 10 home games, since 8/13 vs. MIL and 12-5 in their last 17 games overall since 8/13. Also, the Rockies are now 8-7 at home in August, and 16-12 overall this month. The 16 wins in August are the most in a single month since the club won 17 games in April of 2011. The team had their first off-day yesterday since 8/9, snapping a 20-game stretch without a day off with their next off day, on 9/13, being their final day off in the 2012 regular season schedule.
• 24-year-old right-hander Alex White will make his 17th start of 2012 tonight. White is making his 7th start since returning the Majors on 8/2, and since then he owns a 3.55 ERA (25.1 ip, 10 er) and opponents have hit just .245 (24-for-98) against him.
• Left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard will start tonight’s contest for the Padres. Tonight will be Richard’s 28th start of 2012 already, where he his 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA (57.0 ip, 37 er) in 10 career starts vs. COL
PAD’S PAST: This series is the fifth of six 3-game series between the Rockies and Padres this season. The Rockies took the first series between these two teams 2-games-1, however San Diego has taken each of the last three series 2-games-1. Colorado owns the all-time edge in the series 162-152, including an edge in Denver of 83-73.
For the second time in three games, Chris Nelson tied his career-high with 3 hits on Wednesday, finishing the game 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Nelson also had 3 hits on 8/27 vs. LAD. He now has eight career 3-hit games, including five 3-hit games this season. Nelson has been highly productive since returning from the DL on 8/6. In his 23 games since 8/6 he is batting .344 (21-for-61) with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 12 RBI and 9 runs scored.
IN GAME CHAT
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Cargo in his annual “not earning my paycheck” slump. The Rox better ride his current contract out for a while until he fixes his splits and evens out his performance over a full season.