Rockies-Padres Preview

SAN DIEGO -- Officially, the matchup for Sunday's finale of the four-game series between the Rockies and Padres features San Diego's Edwin Jackson going against Colorado's Chad Bettis.

But the real matchup might be between the Padres and, well, the Padres.

Once again, the Padres face the triple whammy of a Sunday afternoon game to complete a series.

The Padres are 13-32 in day games this season, including 6-12 in day games at Petco Park. Plus, they are 5-17 on Sundays. And they are 10-34 in series finales.

The combination of a series finale on a Sunday afternoon is almost a no-win situation for the Padres.

"I have no idea what that all means," Padres manager Andy green said recently. "Those numbers are bad. But I don't think there is any logical reason why they are like that. I think it's one of those things that eventually even out."

In other areas, the Padres haven't fared that badly. Overall, they are 33-37 at Petco Park this season. They have gone 15-8 on Fridays and 14-9 on Saturdays. Tuesdays (4-17) are even worse than Sundays.

OK, so back to the real matchup -- Jackson vs. Bettis.

The right-handed Jackson, who turned 33 Friday, is 4-4 with a 5.44 earned run average in nine starts since joining the Padres on July 17. As he has throughout his career, Jackson has blown hot and cold. Twice he has gone into the sixth inning without allowing a hit. Twice he has thrown shutout ball for seven full innings. And he has also given up eight runs (in four innings), six runs (in five innings) and five runs in back-to-back starts that covered a total of 7 2/3 innings.

Bettis is 12-7 with a 4.88 ERA in 28 starts and leads the Rockies in wins. In his most recent start, Bettis achieved the rarity of pitching a complete game shutout at Coors Field -- holding the San Francisco Giants to two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts.

"I thought Chad's last start showed us just how good he can be," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss. "All his pitches were working and his command was there. He's developing into a starter with consistent outings."

Bettis, a 27-year-old second-round pick of the Rockies in the 2010 draft, is 20-13 over 48 starts the past two seasons with the Rockies.

He has faced the Padres eight times with five starts. He is 2-1 against the Padres with a 2.73 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. He has a 27-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio against the Padres. His loss to the Padres came the last time Bettis pitched at Petco Park on June 4. He allowed four runs on 10 hits in five innings.

This will be Jackson's first start as a Padre against the Rockies.

In his last start, Jackson shut out the Red Sox on four hits and two walks over seven innings on Labor Day.

Jackson is the first Padres pitcher since Chris Young in 2006 to twice take a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the same season.

"The good games are great," Jackson said after evening his record at 4-4 against the Red Sox. "But I'd like to be good more consistently."