(Photo credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

The Padres briefly occupied first place in the National League West after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers two weeks ago, but San Diego hasn't played like a first-place team since.

San Diego (77-65) had lost nine of its past 11 games and five in a row before Saturday night's 10-8 win over Colorado. Due to the Dodgers' recent struggles, the Padres trail first-place Los Angeles by just a game with 20 to go. San Diego wraps up its series at the Rockies on Sunday and heads home for three against Cincinnati.

Dylan Cease (6-11, 4.81 ERA) will be on the mound for the Padres while Tanner Gordon (5-5, 6.07) will pitch for Colorado in a battle of right-handers on Sunday in Denver

The Padres have plenty of talent to challenge Los Angeles for the division title. San Diego's offense broke out with 16 hits on Saturday. But they were blanked by Kyle Freeland in a 3-0 loss and finished with only three hits on Friday night, just the third time since June 30 they were shut out.

The sense of urgency is creeping in with three weeks left in the regular season.

'They're all playoff games to me and us,' manager Mike Shildt said. 'Of course, they're more magnified this time of year. We'll turn it around. We just will. And I've got complete confidence in that clubhouse.'

It can continue with Cease, who has struggled in the second half of the season. He has pitched six full innings in just one of his eight starts in the second half of the season and faces an aggressive Rockies team.

In five career starts against Colorado he is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, and both of those wins have come in Denver.

The Rockies (40-102) went into developmental mode early in the season, which has led to 13 players making their major league debuts. One of those is Kyle Karros, the son of former big-leaguer Eric Karros. The younger Karros is hitting .250 but his ability on defense has been noticeable.

In 25 games, mostly playing third base, Karros has yet to make an error while playing the position manned by past All-Stars Nolan Arenado and Ryan McMahon.

'Something that stood out with Nolan when he was young was just a feel for the game,' Colorado interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. 'Mac had it and Kyle has it as well. It seems like everything that's hit to any part of his body always comes to his bellybutton, which is a very good thing.

'Just a feel for the game, a calmness. I can't express how important that is, especially a young player, to exude the confidence that he has.'

Gordon has built confidence since getting hit hard by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 10. He allowed 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings that day but has recovered well. He comes into his first career game against San Diego having logged three straight quality starts and is 3-0 with a 2.74 ERA in his past four outings.

-Field Level Media