Rockies and Padres Open Four-Game NL West Clash

Pitching matchup features Padres' Randy Vásquez against Rockies' TBD starter

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:38pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of vibrant purple, brown, and gold colors representing the teams.The Rockies and Padres open a crucial NL West series, with both teams looking to gain ground on the division-leading Dodgers.San Diego Today

The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres, both 6-6 and tied for second place in the NL West, open a four-game series on Thursday night at PETCO Park. The Padres are favored at home with a moneyline of -190 and a spread of -1.5, with Randy Vásquez set to take the mound for San Diego.

Why it matters

This early-season divisional matchup between the Rockies and Padres could have significant implications in the NL West race. Both teams are looking to gain ground on the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, making this a crucial series for each club.

The details

The Padres will send right-hander Randy Vásquez to the mound, who has been dominant so far this season with a 0.75 ERA and 11 strikeouts in his first two starts. The Rockies' starting pitcher is still to be determined. San Diego is favored at home with a moneyline of -190 and a spread of -1.5 as they look to take the series opener.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, April 9 at 9:40 p.m. ET / 6:40 p.m. PT.
  • This is the first game of a four-game series between the Rockies and Padres.

The players

Randy Vásquez

The Padres' starting pitcher, who has a 0.75 ERA and 11 strikeouts in his first two starts of the season.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are 6-6 on the season and tied for second place in the NL West.

San Diego Padres

The Padres are also 6-6 on the season and tied for second place in the NL West.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge series for both teams as they look to gain ground on the Dodgers in the NL West.”

— Buster Olney, ESPN Baseball Analyst

What’s next

The Rockies and Padres will play three more games in the series, with the next contest scheduled for Friday, April 10 at 9:40 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

This early-season divisional matchup between the Rockies and Padres is a crucial one, as both teams look to gain ground on the division-leading Dodgers. With the Padres favored at home and sending their ace Randy Vásquez to the mound, the Rockies will need a strong performance from their yet-to-be-determined starter to pull off the upset.