Sunday, April 10, 2016

Shields, Bettis square off in series finale

Trevor Story and Matt Kemp get a chance to continue their early-season slugfest Sunday afternoon, as the Rockies host the Padres with a pair of right-handers in search of their first win on the mound.
Story, Colorado's rookie shortstop, has homered six times in his first five career games. Meanwhile, Kemp has already gone deep three times this series for the Padres -- averaging 443 feet on those blasts.
San Diego's James Shields gets the ball a day earlier than expected after Tyson Ross was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation Saturday. (Thanks to Thursday's off-day, Shields will be pitching on normal rest.) Shields was mostly sharp over six quality innings against the Dodgers on Tuesday, but was done in by a three-run fourth.
Meanwhile, right-hander Chad Bettis starts for Colorado after surrendering five runs over 5 1/3 against Arizona. He'll be looking to limit the walks after handing out three free passes on Tuesday.
Three things to know about this game
• With a home run Sunday, Story would become the first player in MLB history to homer seven times in the first six games of a season. Willie Mays (1964), Mike Schmidt ('76) and Larry Walker ('97) share the current record with Story with six homers in the first six games.
• Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado has had great success against Shields in 21 career plate appearances. Arenado is 10-for-20 with three homers and a walk against the veteran right-hander.
• In six appearances (three starts) against the Padres, Bettis has posted a 2.04 ERA and a 0.962 WHIP.

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