What happened

The San Diego Padres have won seven straight games, improving to 78-65 as they open a matchup against the Colorado Rockies. San Diego enters as a heavy -186 favorite, with the total set at 11 runs.

Colorado, at 52-90, arrives on its own six-game losing streak and sits well outside playoff contention, 38 games under .500.

Why it matters

The seven-game run has pulled the Padres to within 2.5 games of the final NL Wild Card spot with just 13 games left in the regular season. San Diego's late-season surge could not come at a better time as the race for the last postseason positions tightens.

Colorado offers little in the way of resistance, giving the Padres a favorable matchup to extend their momentum against a team fading badly down the stretch.

By the numbers

San Diego has won its last five games and is scoring 4.3 runs per game while allowing 4.1 over that stretch. Colorado, by contrast, is scoring 4.6 runs per game but allowing 5.9 during its six-game skid, a pitching disparity that has fueled the Rockies' collapse.

What to watch next

San Diego and Colorado are scheduled to begin play Monday, with the Padres looking to push their winning streak to eight games. Every result over the final 13 games carries added weight as San Diego attempts to close out and secure its Wild Card position.