August 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Seth (84 years old) throws out a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles Leclerc-USA TODAY Sports Since the All-Star break, the San Diego Padres have lost just four of 23 games, including two against the Colorado Rockies, the team with the worst record in the National League.
The Rockies won the first game of a three-game series against their National League West rivals in Denver on Friday, 7-3.
The series continues on Saturday when the Padres will send right-hander Dylan Cease (11-9, 3.41 ERA) against Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland (3-3). 4, 5.75).
Seth, acquired from the Chicago White Sox before the season started, was hampered by three unearned runs in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins. It was his first loss since July 7 and ended his four-game winning streak.
On July 25, he recorded his first career no-hitter in a 3–0 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Seth understands the need to win in the competitive NFC playoffs. The Padres are tied with the Diamondbacks for second in the NL West, three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, but both San Diego and Arizona have wild-card berths for Saturday's game.
“Every game we play right now is important,” Seth said recently. “We need to continue to bring that focus, intensity and effort to every game we're playing. We're looking really good right now.”
Seth faced the Rockies for the third time this season and the fifth time in his career. He is 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA in four games against Colorado, including a 1-1 mark in 2024.
Seth will have to deal with thin air and an enthusiastic fan base as the Rockies honor new Hall of Fame first baseman Todd Helton on Saturday. It's fitting that Freeland would be on the mound, considering he grew up in Denver and cheered for Colorado during Helton's career.
The question is whether Freeland can hang on from this start. Over the past two games, he has developed blisters on various parts of his pitching staff.
Freeland hasn't faced the Padres yet this season, but has seen it plenty of times in his career. He went 7-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts) against San Diego.
Freeland has to hope he can get the kind of run support Colorado has given its pitchers in its past two home games. The Rockies scored nine runs against Atlanta on Sunday and seven on Friday night, three of which came on Brendan Rodgers' first-inning home run.
Rodgers has been playing well of late after a slow start to the season.
“He's hitting well at home and I like that, but overall we've seen good hitters on the road as well,” manager Bud Black said after Friday's win. “He's got better control, has a crisp swing and has some bat speed. It's good for me and the coaching staff because it happens at this time of year, you have to be mentally there and physically overcoming things to see results.
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