Jackson Merrill is on a hot streak, going 4-for-8 with a home run and a double in his last two games. He will face Antonio Senzatela, who has allowed eight home runs in seven starts this season. The Rockies' bullpen likely feels the impact of playing a doubleheader on Thursday. Playing at Coors Field further increases Merrill's chances of hitting another home run. With temps in the low 70s and an air density reading of 40, the ball will travel 16% farther than usual, the highest percentage this season.

Oh my...oh my. Colorado is plumbing some depths, even well behind the win pace of last year's woeful Chisox, who had won 9 of their first 37. The Rockies are now 6-31 after getting swept by the Tigers in Wednesday's twin bill, and while pitching has long been a woe in Denver, Colorado isn't hitting much these days, either, only three runs scored across the twin bill yesterday. Anthony Senzatela needs all the support he can get, and we suspect that Padres counterpart Randy Vasquez (who's allowed two runs or fewer in five of his seven starts) and the San Diego bullpen will have a lot more runs to work with. Play Padres on the Run Line.

When the Padres and Rockies met in San Diego last month, the Padres won all three games by shutouts. The combined final score was 16-0. Here we are a month later, and the Padres are 6-31 with a profit margin of minus-2,178. They lose on average by almost three runs per game, scoring 9.16. The Padres are 23-13. The Rockies have lost their last six games in a row. Padres to win on the run line.

The Friars are swinging the bats again and Jackson Merrill's return has already proven to be a big deal. They face a starter with a 7.63 ERA pitching at home, allowing 5 HR in 15 1/3 IP. The Padres have the better pen, too. The Rockies are 8-17 on RL vs the NL and 2-8 within the mighty NL West.