The San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies will meet on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Coors Field to close out their three-game set, a matchup that has dramatically highlighted the massive gap between a surging contender and a rebuilding club mired in historic struggles. The Padres have completely dominated the series, including a 21-0 rout in Game 2, and will enter the finale with a 25-13 record, sitting second in the NL West behind only the Dodgers. Their balanced combination of elite starting pitching, defensive consistency, and top-tier offensive production has them poised for a deep postseason run, and Sunday offers a prime opportunity to complete a series sweep and keep pressure on the division leaders. Meanwhile, the Rockies, now 6-33, are enduring one of the worst starts in franchise history and remain winless through their first five games against the Padres this season. On the mound for San Diego will be Nick Pivetta, who has been one of the league’s most effective starters in the early going, entering with a 5-1 record and a 2.01 ERA. His ability to command the strike zone, miss bats, and work deep into games gives the Padres stability and a major edge in this matchup. Opposing him is German Márquez, who returns for Colorado with an 0-6 record and an alarming 9.90 ERA—numbers that reflect both his own inconsistency and the overwhelming burden placed on a pitching staff that lacks depth and confidence. At the plate, San Diego is led by Fernando Tatis Jr., who’s been red-hot with a .319 batting average, eight home runs, and 19 RBIs.

He’s flanked by Manny Machado and Luis Arraez, both of whom are batting over .290 and bringing veteran presence and consistent production to a deep and disciplined lineup. On Saturday, the Padres’ offense exploded for 21 runs and five home runs, showing just how dangerous they are when locked in. In contrast, the Rockies have sputtered offensively all season, averaging just over three runs per game and carrying a team batting average of .211. Hunter Goodman has been a lone bright spot, batting .264 with five home runs, but injuries to key contributors like Kris Bryant and Austin Gomber have made it even harder for Colorado to gain traction. Their bullpen continues to be a liability, converting just 45.5% of save opportunities, and the defense ranks near the bottom of the league with a .980 fielding percentage and 26 errors. Sunday’s game presents a mismatch in nearly every category, with the Padres’ 88.2% save conversion rate and league-best team ERA (3.00) starkly contrasting the Rockies’ 5.47 ERA and league-worst record. San Diego is 5-0 against Colorado this season and has won 14 of the last 16 meetings overall. With a complete team clicking in all phases of the game, the Padres are not only heavy favorites to sweep the series but also to continue positioning themselves as one of the most dangerous teams in the National League. For the Rockies, Sunday represents little more than an opportunity to play spoiler and stop the bleeding—though against a Padres team this potent, even that may be too much to ask.