The King of the Rockies

The Padres are right in the middle of a playoff race, and this is exactly the type of game they need to win. San Diego has won nine of its last 10 games and now gets a Rockies team that has dropped nine of its last 10. Colorado is 56-96 and has been getting beaten up on the mound, allowing eight or more runs five times in its last seven games.

The Rockies' offense hasn't exactly been helping either. They have scored three runs or fewer in six of their last nine games, which is a brutal combination when you're already struggling to keep runs off the board.

Now Colorado gets Michael King.

King has allowed just three total runs over his last four starts and hasn't surrendered more than three runs in a game since late July. That's a pretty strong spot against a Rockies lineup that has struggled to generate consistent offense.

Meanwhile, the Padres are playing with urgency and momentum. They have won nine of their last 10, and Wednesday night's 9-3 victory over Colorado pushed them another step forward in the wild-card race.

On paper, this is a Padres spot I really like.

The only thing keeping me from making it an upper-level play is Coors Field and King's history against the Rockies in Denver. You don't need me to explain what altitude can do to a pitcher's mistake — especially in this ballpark.

Still, everything else is pointing in San Diego's direction. The Padres are hot, Colorado is struggling, and King is pitching extremely well.

The Pick: Padres.

I'm willing to trust the better team, the better pitcher and the better current form — even with the Coors Field tax.

For more winners like this check out TomBartonSports.com