Padres on deck: Streaking into Coors Field

San Diego Padres (81-68, 2nd in NL West)

The Padres have won seven in a row to build a 2½-game lead on the Diamondbacks in the race for the NL’s third wild-card spot. The Cubs and Phillies, who are tied for the top wild-card spot, are within reach at 1½ games up on the Padres, who lost the season series to both and thus the tiebreaker. The Padres have won eight of the first nine meetings with Colorado, with the only loss occurring at Coors Field.

Colorado Rockies (55-94, 5th in NL West)

The Rockies have lost seven in a row and are barreling toward a fourth straight 100-loss season. They lead the majors with 865 runs allowed and have the second-worst run differential (minus-169).

San Diego: The Padres have a .783 OPS (6th) and 3.86 ERA (10th) through an 8-3 start to September. OF Fernando Tatis Jr. has four homers this month (1.190 OPS) and 3B Manny Machado (.901 OPS) and OF Jackson Merrill (1.046 OPS) both have three homers this month. Meantime, INF Jake Cronenworth has a .419 OPS this month.

Colorado: The Rockies have a .743 OPS (16th) and a 6.92 ERA (29th) during a 3-8 start to September. 2B Adael Amador has three homers and a 1.024 OPS this month and 1B TJ Rumfield has two homers and a 1.161 OPS to start September. C Hunter Goodman also has two homers but is sitting on a .445 OPS (4-for-39) to start the month.

Padres RHP Casey Mize (5-9, 3.70 ERA) | He struck out seven and was an out shy of a quality start (3 ER) in a no-decision in his last start against the Nationals. Mize has a 6.34 ERA in seven starts so far for the Padres. He won his only career start at Coors Field (6 IP, 1 ER) back in 2025. His only other start against the Rockies was in 2024 (4⅔ IP, 4 ER).

Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (12-9, 5.30 ERA) | After allowing 33 homers in 157 innings last year with the Orioles, Sugano has allowed 29 in 137 ⅔ innings this year. He has a 4.96 ERA in 13 starts this year at Coors Field and a 2.31 ERA in two starts (11⅔ IP) this year against the Padres, which includes a win in Denver (5⅔ IP, 1 ER).

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.61 ERA) | The Padres are 20-9 in Buehler’s starts and he’s allowed three earned runs or less in 10 straight starts (3.26 ERA), although he was lifted after2 ⅓ innings (2 ER) in his last start. Buehler has two starts this year against the Rockies, one at Petco Park in April (6 IP, 0 ER) and one at Coors Field in April (2⅔ IP, 4 ER).

Rockies TBA | LHP Kyle Freeland (4-10, 6.37 ERA) threw a bullpen on Saturday and could return in this spot after missing nearly a month with cervical radiculopathy. Freeland has a 4.46 ERA in 135 career innings against the Padres. He last faced them in 2025, going 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA (13 IP, 2 BBs, 12 Ks).

Padres LHP Robbie Ray (12-8, 3.57 ERA) | He’s allowed 10 earned runs over his last two starts (7⅓ IP) and is 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts as a Padre. Ray has a 4.97 ERA in 25 career starts against the Rockies and a 5.04 ERA in 13 starts at Coors Field, including two this year (10 IP, 4 ER) while with the Giants.

Rockies RHP Mason Adams (0-0, 3.38 ERA) | He’s allowed five homers 18⅔ innings to start his career, including two in his lone start so far at Coors Field. The 26-year-old sits 92-93 mph with his four-seamer and sinker as part of a six-pitch mix.

Padres RHP Michael King (11-9, 3.03 ERA) | His scoreless innings streak (21⅔) was halted in the first inning on Friday, but King is still riding a string of seven straight quality starts (1.81 ERA). He allowed four runs in six innings in a no-decision against the Rockies in July and has a 5.54 ERA in 26 career innings against the Rockies. King’s only start at Coors Field was a loss in 2024 (3 ⅔ IP, 6 R, 4 ER).

Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.55 ERA) | The 28-year-old has a 6.35 ERA in 207 innings since debuting in 2024. He’s faced the Padres three times (4.60 ERA, 15 ⅔ IP), including twice last year (9⅔ IP, 7 ER).

San Diego: RHP Jason Adam (shoulder) threw a scoreless frame to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday. DH Miguel Andujar (wrist) is also rehabbing with El Paso. RHP Joe Musgrove (elbow) is continuing to play catch but has not resumed throwing bullpens following latest setback. RHP Jeremiah Estrada (shoulder) is rehabbing in Arizona, while OF Ramón Laureano (hip surgery) has begun baseball activity but is not close to game action. 1B Gavin Sheets (plantar fasciitis) remains in a walking boot, while INF Luis Rengifo is awaiting season-ending knee surgery.

Colorado: LHPs Kyle Freeland (cervical radiculopathy) and José Quintana (elbow) have both recently made rehab starts at Double-A Hartford in hopes of returning to the rotation before the end of the month. The Rockies are also without UT Willi Castro (knee, plantar fasciitis), LHP Sean Sullivan (shoulder), RHP Pierson Ohl (UCL), RHP RJ Petit (elbow), RHP McCade Brown (shoulder), LHP Welinton Herrera (UCL), RHP Chase Dollander (elbow) and DH Kris Bryant (back).