Colorado @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2012 ) Colorado 5, San Diego 9

The Padres are still longshots to make the postseason, but they seem determined not to finish last in the National League West. San Diego has won six of its eight games since the All-Star break to put some distance between themselves and Colorado, which is last in the division after going 11-27 over its last 38 games. The Padres have gone 21-15 over their last 36 games, and they hit three homers in Friday’s 9-5 series opening win over the Rockies.

Colorado began to shake things up Friday by acquiring starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez from the Royals for Jeremy Guthrie, who was 3-10 with a 6.35 ERA. Like the entire starting rotation, Guthrie was a huge disappointment this season, going 1-6 with a 9.51 ERA at Coors Field. The Rockies are hoping a change of scenery helps Sanchez, who struggled with Kansas City after being dealt from San Francisco during the offseason. Sanchez, who went 1-6 with a 7.76 ERA with the Royals, will be a free agent at the end of the season.

TV: 8:35 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), Fox Sports San Diego (San Diego)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (2-2, 4.76 ERA) vs. Padres RH Kip Wells (1-3, 2.82)

Wells pitched seven shutout innings at Coors Field on July 1 before losing his next two starts, giving up five runs over 10 1/3 innings. Wells, who was promoted from Triple-A Tucson on June 26, is 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA in seven career starts against the Rockies.

Francis has been a pleasant surprise for the Rockies since signing with the team in June, giving up three earned runs or fewer in six straight outings. Francis is 6-13 lifetime against the Padres with a 5.39 ERA in 23 starts, and he’s looking for his first win at Petco Park since Sept. 23, 2007.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies C Wilin Rosario left Friday’s game in the second inning with a sprained ankle after trying to block a pitch in the dirt.

2. Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin will likely miss the rest of the series with right wrist soreness, but he’s expected to avoid the disabled list.

3. Over the last 10 games, the Padres bullpen has allowed just three runs over 27 innings.