Rockies Look to Avoid Sweep Against Padres

Kyle Freeland takes the mound as Colorado tries to salvage the final game of the series

Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:10pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres, with the action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant purple, brown, and gold colors.A cubist interpretation of the competitive battle between the Rockies and Padres, with the game action fractured into a dynamic geometric composition.Denver Today

The Colorado Rockies are facing a sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, but they are determined to keep things competitive as they continue their rebuild. Left-hander Kyle Freeland will take the mound for the Rockies, looking to build on his strong start to the season. The Padres will counter with veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta, who has struggled against the Rockies in the past.

Why it matters

While the Rockies are not a playoff contender this season, they are focused on progress and development as they work to rebuild their roster. Avoiding a sweep against the division-rival Padres would be a small but meaningful victory, and could provide a boost of confidence for the young Rockies squad.

The details

Freeland has been impressive in his first three starts, posting a 2.30 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 15.2 innings. He'll look to continue that strong performance against a Padres lineup that has already taken the first three games of the series. Pivetta, meanwhile, has struggled against the Rockies in his career, with a 9.64 ERA in eight appearances. He'll need to find a way to neutralize the Rockies' bats if the Padres want to complete the sweep.

  • The series finale is scheduled for 2:10pm MDT on April 12, 2026.

The players

Kyle Freeland

The left-handed starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, who has a 2.30 ERA through his first three starts of the 2026 season.

Nick Pivetta

The veteran right-handed starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres, who has struggled against the Rockies in his career with a 9.64 ERA.

Colorado Rockies

The Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado, who are in the early stages of a rebuild but are determined to keep things competitive against division rivals like the Padres.

San Diego Padres

The Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California, who are looking to complete a sweep of the Rockies and continue their strong start to the 2026 season.

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What’s next

The Rockies will look to avoid being swept by the Padres in the series finale on April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

While the Rockies are not a playoff contender this season, they are showing fight and competitiveness as they work to rebuild their roster. Avoiding a sweep against the division-rival Padres would be a small but meaningful victory that could provide a boost of confidence for the young Rockies squad.