Game 10 Preview: Padres vs. Rockies

The Padres look to get back in the win column tonight as the Rockies come to town for a three-game set. Tyson Ross will try to rebound from a rough start last week against this same Rockies team. He gave up three runs on three hits and four walks and threw 96 pitches through just four innings. Padres starting pitching has not been able to pitch past the 6th inning at all this season, and altogether average less than five innings. It's taking its toll on the bullpen, so hopefully Ross can discontinue that trend and give our relievers a bit of a break tonight.

Our offense will need a much better showing against the Rockies than they had in Colorado, where they were outscored 20-6 in the series. Padres hitters have shown some improvements since coming home after their 1-5 road trip, but still dropped two of three against the Dodgers in this past series. And now they'll have to do without Carlos Quentin's bat in the lineup. Players like Nick Hundley and Chris Denorfia have really stepped it up lately and have been good leaders on offense these past few games, but we really need guys like Cameron Maybin and Alexi Amarista to get hot.

Jon Garland will have the task of trying to keep the Padres offense at bay after last night's events. He'll have more confidence knowing he won't have to face Quentin, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles against him last week and is coming off a high-intensity game last night. Garland limited the Padres to two runs on five hits through six innings of work on Saturday.

The Rockies, who went on a tear after losing their season opener, had their five game winning streak snapped when they went on the road to San Francisco, where they were swept by the Giants. And with the Padres having been swept by the Rockies last weekend at Coors Field and losing the series to the Dodgers, these next three games will be a huge as both teams are motivated and looking to redeem themselves.