The San Diego Padres have lost just four of their 23 games since the All-Star break, with two of those defeats coming against the Colorado Rockies -- the team with the worst record in the National League. The Rockies posted a 7-3 win in the opener of a three-game series on Friday between the National League West rivals in Denver. The series continues Saturday when the Padres will send right-hander Dylan Cease (11-9, 3.
41 ERA) to the mound against Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland (3-4, 5.75). Cease, acquired from the Chicago White Sox before the start of the season, is coming off a 7-6 loss to the Miami Marlins last Sunday, hampered by three unearned runs.
It was his first loss since July 7 and ended his personal winning streak at four. Mixed in that streak was his first career no-hitter, a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals on July 25. He followed that gem with an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31.
Cease understands the need to pile up wins in the competitive NL playoff picture. The Padres are tied with the Diamondbacks for second place in the NL West, three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, but both San Diego and Arizona hold wild-card spots entering play Saturday. "Every game we're playing now is extremely important," Cease said recently.
"We need to continue to bring this focus and intensity and effort to every game we're playing. We're really looking good right now." Cease is facing the Rockies for the third time this season and fifth time in hi.