AP Sports Preview SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The San Diego Padres host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday evening at PETCO Park, with first pitch scheduled under clear skies and 81-degree temperatures. The Padres enter the game at 53-53, having won three straight after taking three of four from the Miami Marlins over the weekend. Colorado, conversely, dropped three of four in Milwaukee and sits at 42-65, last in the National League West. The series opener Tuesday ended in a 0-0 score, but the Padres have dominated the season series, going 7-1 against the Rockies in eight meetings. San Diego took five of six in the first two series, including a three-game sweep at home in April. Left-hander Kyle Freeland is expected to start for Colorado. He is 0-4 with a 7.85 ERA over his past five outings, most recently allowing five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Milwaukee on Sunday. He has not earned a win since July 1 against Miami. Third baseman Manny Machado has been a bright spot for San Diego. He homered and drove in three runs Sunday in a 5-3 win over the Marlins, and has three home runs and six RBIs in his past five games. The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-3 Padres victory. San Diego is a -1.5 favorite on the run line, with the over/under set at 8.5 total runs. Colorado begins a six-game homestand Friday against Kansas City, followed by a three-game set with Tampa Bay. San Diego opens a four-game series against San Francisco on Thursday before a road trip to Arizona next week.