The San Diego Padres (19-16, 10-6 away) begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies (12-22, 10-8 home) Monday night in a battle of National League West opponents. Monday’s contest will be the first meeting between the two conference foes this season.
The first pitch of game one is at 8:40 p.m. EST inside Coors Field in Denver, CO. San Diego is the favorite (-170) in the contest, and the run total is 10.
What to Know – San Diego Padres
The Padres dropped two of three games over the weekend to in-state foe the San Francisco Giants. San Diego salvaged the weekend with an 11-1 triumph over the San Fran yesterday. The Padres sit 1.5 games out of first place in the NL West and have leapfrogged the favorite Los Angeles Dodgers in the standings.
Right-hander Dinelson Lamet (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) makes his third start of the season for the Padres. San Diego has eased Lamet back from injury, throwing just two innings in his first two starts. The 28-year old has scattered five hits, walked one, and struck out four in his limited action.
San Diego averages 3.9 runs per game and bats .233 as a team over 35 games played this season. Outfielder Trent Grisham has done it all offensively, batting .293 with five home runs and six stolen bases. First baseman Eric Hosmer paces the Padres in batting average (.307), on-base percentage (.373), and runs driven in (20).
What to Know – Colorado Rockies
Colorado carries a three-game losing skid into Monday’s tilt after a series sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rockies were shut out in two of the three games against the Cards. Colorado’s uninspiring start to the 2021 campaign has them in the last place in the NL West.
The Rockies counter on the mound with Antonio Senzatela (1-3, 5.76 ERA, 1.55 WHIP), who will be activated off the IL for Monday’s game. Senzatela has appeared in six games this season, allowing 37 hits, 19 earned runs, with 18 strikeouts over 29.2 innings pitched. The right-hander’s lost two in a row and lasted only 4.2 innings in his last start.
Colorado scores 4.7 runs per game while hitting .242 as a team through six weeks of play. Second baseman Ryan McMahon is putting together a solid season at the plate, leading the Rockies with eight home runs and 22 RBI. Outfielder Raimel Tapia has stepped up offensively, batting .314 with four home runs, three stolen bases, and 15 runs scored.
The Pick is In
Both teams had rough weekends and would like to start the new week on a high note. The track record would lend us to believe that Lamet will have a short leash on the mound, and the Padres will use a handful of relievers throughout the game. Senzatela makes his first start on the mound in May, at Coors Field, against one of the better offenses in baseball.
Expect a high-scoring tilt with both the Rockies and Padres taking advantage of the pitching matchups in Monday’s game.
The Pick: San Diego/Colorado OVER 10
