Colorado’s season-long collapse intensified in San Diego as the Rockies were routed 11-3 after a brief spark on Friday. A rookie start by Bradley Blalock fizzled in three innings, and San Diego’s veterans seized control with power from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Colorado’s misery index and the run differential plummet underscore a pitching-dept crisis, while young talents like Jordan Beck and Tyler Freeman provide a glimmer of what the future might hold.

The Padres piled on early and late, with Laureano driving in runs and Cronenworth, Tatis, and Machado delivering multi-hit nights. For Colorado, the night highlighted why the club sits at 41-108 and counting, and why its pitching depth will be the top priority in any remaining call-ups or reconfigs. The drought in the first inning finally ended, but the overall narrative remained the same: a season defined by depth issues and frequent blemishes on the mound.

San Diego exploded for 11 runs as four Padres homered helped derail Colorado 11-3. Fernando Tatís Jr. and Manny Machado powered the early offense, with Jackson Merrill even clubbing a solo shot as a pitcher-turned-hitter. The Rockies battled, led by Tyler Freeman’s doubles and Blaine Crim’s burgeoning power, but Colorado’s pitching collapse—blown by Bradley Blalock and later bullpen miscues—undermined any comeback bid. Up next, Márquez vs. Darvish shapes the next chapter.

Framber Valdez ripped off a sharp, seven-scoreless outing against Colorado, keeping Houston 1.5 games up on Seattle in the AL West. Yordan Alvarez, back from a 100-game layoff due to a fractured hand, belted a 421-foot two-run homer in the eighth, and Cam Smith followed with a homer to cushion the lead. Valdez’s curveball produced 10 whiffs on 17 swings, signaling a return to form as Houston finally pounded out late-game runs.

The Rockies hung around briefly, but the Astros’ revamped lineup and Valdez’s rejuvenated command offered a promising sign for fantasy managers chasing a Houston surge in September. Colorado’s pace toward a rough season tempered the mood, but Alvarez’s power return and Valdez’s efficiency give Houston upside down the stretch.