MLB Game Preview - Colorado at San Diego

Sun Sep 8, 2019 4:10 PM EDT

Going into Sunday, second-year Padres left-hander Eric Lauer has a 5-0 record with a 2.11 ERA in seven starts against the National League West-leading Dodgers.

Unfortunately, the Padres aren't playing the Dodgers on Sunday. Lauer will be starting against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. And there's the rub.

In five career starts against the Rockies, the 24-year-old Lauer is 0-3 with an 11.21 ERA, a 2.491 WHIP and a .395 opponents' batting average. But this game won't be at Coors Field in Denver, where Lauer is 0-3 in three starts with a 19.73 ERA, a 3.692 WHIP and a .500 OBA.

Sunday will mark the third time that Lauer has faced the Rockies at Petco Park, where he has yielded four runs (three earned) to Colorado on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts in nine innings.

Lauer (8-8, 4.55 ERA overall this season) will try to get his first victory ever against Colorado on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series against the Rockies, who will start rookie right-hander Peter Lambert (2-6, 7.19 ERA).

"It's time for Lauer to step up and beat them, handle them," Padres manager Andy Green said Saturday. "I think there are certain teams you face where you are confident when you get on the mound given past performances against those clubs. You know you are going to rise up and compete against them. Eric has plenty enough stuff to beat these guys. He matches up well enough against them. He has to go out and execute.

"I know there is Coors Field stuff going on. But there is a chance he pitches there before the season ends, too. It could be that his next two starts are against the Rockies. It's time to rise up and meet that challenge. We're encouraged by the way he's handled his last few outings. We want to see him go out and do it."

"It's part of baseball," Green added. "He's fine. We feel good about him being on the mound. Stay on the attack. Mentality-wise, attack these guys. Throw your best stuff from the get-go, don't hold it back for the third or fourth inning, go get them right away. Don't dig yourself a hole that way."

The best thing that Lauer could have going for him Sunday is facing the 22-year-old Lambert, who has lost six straight decisions since winning his first two major league games in back-to-back wins against the Chicago Cubs in June.

"Lambert has actually pitched better a couple of times than the numbers have indicated," said Rockies manager Bud Black of the Rockies' second-round draft pick in 2015. "We've moved him along quickly this season."

Sunday will be Lambert's 17th start of the season and of his career. It will also be his second start against the Padres. On June 16 at Coors Field, Lambert gave up eight runs on nine hits and no walks with three strikeouts in three innings against the Padres. He did not factor in the decision in the Padres' 14-13 win.

Lambert's last start last Monday at Dodger Stadium was the shortest of his major league career. He gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Lambert is 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA in seven road starts this season.

--Field Level Media