The San Diego Padres have misplaced simply 4 of their 23 video games for the reason that All-Star break, with two of these defeats coming in opposition to the Colorado Rockies — the crew with the worst document within the Nationwide League.
The Rockies posted a 7-3 win within the opener of a three-game sequence on Friday between the Nationwide League West rivals in Denver.
The sequence continues Saturday when the Padres will ship right-hander Dylan Stop (11-9, 3.41 ERA) to the mound in opposition to Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland (3-4, 5.75).
Stop, acquired from the Chicago White Sox earlier than the beginning of the season, is coming off a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins final Sunday, hampered by three unearned runs. It was his first loss since July 7 and ended his private successful streak at 4.
Combined in that streak was his first profession no-hitter, a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals on July 25. He adopted that gem with an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31.
Stop understands the necessity to pile up wins within the aggressive NL playoff image. The Padres are tied with the Diamondbacks for second place within the NL West, three video games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, however each San Diego and Arizona maintain wild-card spots coming into play Saturday.
“Each recreation we’re taking part in now’s extraordinarily necessary,” Stop mentioned not too long ago. “We have to proceed to carry this focus and depth and energy to each recreation we’re taking part in. We’re actually trying good proper now.”
Stop is going through the Rockies for the third time this season and fifth time in his profession. He’s 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA in his 4 begins versus Colorado, together with 1-1 in 2024.
Stop must cope with the skinny air and a fired-up fanbase with the Rockies honoring newly inducted Corridor of Fame first baseman Todd Helton on Saturday. It’s becoming that Freeland is on the mound, contemplating he grew up in Denver rooting for Colorado throughout Helton’s profession.
The query is whether or not Freeland can stick round on this begin. He has been pressured from his previous two outings with blisters on totally different elements of his pitching hand.
Freeland has not pitched in opposition to the Padres but this season however has seen them loads of occasions in his profession. He’s 7-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 23 appearances (21 begins) in opposition to San Diego.
Freeland should hope he can get the type of run assist Colorado has given its pitchers prior to now two house video games. The Rockies scored 9 runs in opposition to Atlanta on Sunday and tacked on seven Friday night time, three on Brendan Rodgers’ homer within the first inning.
Rodgers has been hitting nicely currently after one other gradual begin to his season.
“He is hitting nicely at house, I like that, however general on the highway we’re seeing good at-bats, too,” supervisor Bud Black mentioned after Friday’s win. “He is driving the ball higher, the swing is crisp with some bat pace to it. What’s good about it to me and the teaching employees is it is taking place on the time of the 12 months when it’s a must to combat via some issues mentally and bodily to see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel.”
–Discipline Degree Media
