The San Diego Padres are set to enhance their pitching rotation by calling up JP Sears from Triple-A El Paso to start against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday night. This decision comes as the team races against time to secure a playoff position, currently trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs for home-field advantage in the National League playoffs.
Manager Mike Shildt emphasized the importance of both managing the workload of veteran pitchers and expressing confidence in Sears, who was acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline. This strategic move allows other starters, including Yu Darvish and Dylan Cease, an extra day of rest, which the team believes will be beneficial as they aim for a strong playoff performance.
Sears, with a record of 8-10 and a 5.01 ERA, has made three starts for San Diego this season, achieving a 1-1 record with a 5.52 ERA over 14 2/3 innings. His last appearance on August 25 against Seattle resulted in a no-decision after he allowed four runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings. Notably, Sears has had success against the Rockies, boasting a 2-0 record with a 3.18 ERA in two career starts, including a solid outing on April 5 in Denver where he pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed three runs.
The Padres (80-67) are currently 2.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and 3.5 games behind the Cubs for the first wild-card spot. They have performed strongly against the Rockies this season, winning eight out of ten matchups, including four shutouts. In their most recent game, Randy Vasquez set a high standard for the pitching staff by striking out a career-high nine batters over six shutout innings, contributing to a 2-0 victory.
Despite a lackluster offensive performance in Thursday’s game, the Padres saw standout contributions from Luis Arraez, who recorded three hits, and Jackson Merrill, who hit a solo home run, his second in five games. Shildt praised Merrill’s performance, underscoring its significance for the team’s success.
On the other side, the Rockies will start Tanner Gordon, who is looking to rebound after a challenging outing against the Padres last Sunday, where he allowed six runs on six hits, including three home runs, over 3 2/3 innings. Gordon currently holds a record of 5-6 with a 6.60 ERA and has struggled in previous encounters against the Padres, with an 0-1 record and a 6.52 ERA in two career starts against them.
The Rockies enter Friday’s game with a six-game losing streak, during which their offense has struggled significantly. Aside from a high-scoring loss to the Padres on Saturday, they have managed to score only four runs across five games. Injuries have compounded their challenges, with rookie right-hander Chase Dollander expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Dollander, who has shown promise despite a 2-12 record and a 6.52 ERA, impressed in his last outing by limiting the Dodgers to one run and one hit over five-plus innings.
As the Padres and Rockies prepare to face off, both teams are navigating critical junctures in their seasons, with the Padres focused on securing a playoff berth and the Rockies seeking to break their losing streak.