The Padres activated Ty France from the paternity leave list and reinstalled him as their cleanup hitter and first baseman ahead of Monday’s 5:40 p.m. start at Coors Field (Padres.TV).

To make room, infielder Mason McCoy was returned to Triple-A El Paso. McCoy did not appear in a game while covering France on the roster during his three-day absence.

Luis Campusano served as the cleanup hitter during France’s leave and went 2-for-13 with a double and an RBI in three games in San Francisco.

Campusano’s .824 OPS is second on the team, behind France (.873 OPS), so it made sense to give him a look in the cleanup spot, the highest spot that the 27-year-old catcher had hit this season.

Campusano will serve as the DH on Monday and bat sixth, behind center fielder Jackson Merrill, who was named the NL Player of the Week for compiling the following numbers:

The Kid is cookin’. pic.twitter.com/fVj05zsSLR

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 14, 2026

With France back at first base, Jake Cronenworth (.581 OPS) is back at second base, Fernando Tatis Jr. (.817 OPS) is back in right field and Dustin Harris (.698 OPS) will play left field while settling into the two-hole.

Freddy Fermin (.578 OPS) will catch and bat ninth.

First of four in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/MjqHlQWmjs

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 14, 2026

The Padres, winners of seven in a row, are up 2½ games on the Diamondbacks in the quest for the NL’s last playoff spot. Their playoff odds have soared to a season-high 77% at Fangraphs.com.

The Rockies (55-94) have lost seven in a row. Here is how they will line up to start the four-game series:

Back at home! pic.twitter.com/DR3QHQ1tts

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 14, 2026

 

Monday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Casey Mize (5-9, 3.70 ERA)

He struck out seven and was an out shy of a quality start (3 ER) in a no-decision in his last start against the Nationals. Mize has a 6.34 ERA in seven starts so far for the Padres. He won his only career start at Coors Field (6 IP, 1 ER) back in 2025. His only other start against the Rockies was in 2024 (4⅔ IP, 4 ER).

Here is how Mize has fared against current Rockies:

Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (12-9, 5.30 ERA)

After allowing 33 homers in 157 innings last year with the Orioles, Sugano has allowed 29 in 137 ⅔ innings this year. He has a 4.96 ERA in 13 starts this year at Coors Field and a 2.31 ERA in two starts (11⅔ IP) this year against the Padres, which includes a win in Denver (5⅔ IP, 1 ER).

Here is how Sugano has fared against current Padres: