Game Preview: Kendrick tries to halt the slide against the Padres

The last five Rockies games have been absolutely brutal, wiping out most of the good feelings accrued from the early hot start. In an effort to shake things up, Walt Weiss has tinkered the lineup a little bit: the slumping Carlos Gonzalez has been dropped to the six-hole while Corey Dickerson (back in the lineup after sitting a day) moves up to the two spot. Walt Weiss has said that "CarGo is 100 percent healthy. This was just to give him a break and allow him a chance to succeed in a lower pressure situation."

Kyle Kendrick needs to soak up some innings today. The bullpen has been brutalized during this losing stretch, having to pitch an ungodly amount of innings in relief of starters who have walked a billion batters. It has been so bad that Wilin Rosario had to be optioned to bring John Axford back to shore up the 'pen. The bench is short and punchless as a result. We need length from Kendrick and for Dickerson and Nolan Arenado to be healthy today or things could get uglier.

Additionally, LaTroy Hawkins has hit the DL with biceps tendinitis; Scott Oberg returns to the big leagues in his place. When it rains it pours, right?

Going for the Padres is new acquisition James Shields. Who wins; Coors Shield or James Shields? Do the shields bounce off each other and neutralize? These are the big questions. Shields has been excellent in the early going, striking out better than 11 per nine innings and holding a sub-three ERA.

Mike McKenry is spelling Nick Hundley. Tulo, Morneau, Arenado, and DJ are in their familiar spots.

This recent spell of bad baseball has been disheartening to say the least. The home crowd is due for a victory celebration.