Rockies' veteran leaders unswayed by slide

SAN DIEGO -- They say leadership on a baseball team shows itself most when times are tough. Rockies manager Bud Black, however, says the team’s recent slide just confirmed what he already knew about the team’s leaders.

With the Rockies enduring an 8-22 stretch entering Thursday, Black said he’s seen no change in the work ethic or attitude from core players such as Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond.

“In these tough times, veteran players really are important,” Black said Thursday. “You need veterans to show their professionalism and pride of being big leaguers. And those guys set a good example. …

“Charlie, regardless of whether it’s the first day of Spring Training, first day of the season, last day of the season, he sets a great example of preparation and commitment to that day’s game. Nolan does the same, in a different kind of way.”

With the Rockies last in the Majors with a 6.81 ERA during the slide, Black hasn’t spent much energy taking the pulse of his clubhouse.

“I don’t worry about our club in that way,” Black said. “I worry about our pitchers throwing strikes and getting the ball down, getting better, about playing sound defense, taking good at-bats. But our work ethic and preparation, I don’t worry about that.”

Rematch with Padres

The Rockies on Thursday looked across the field at the Padres for the first time since the teams hooked up in a record-breaking, calculator-crushing series at Coors Field in June.

They entered the rematch at Petco Park with a 15-28 record since. Causation or coincidence?

“That takes a lot out of you, both teams,” Black said. “Both teams probably will tell you those four games -- all over four hours, all the time you’re on the field, all the runs that were scored -- that takes a lot out of you, physically and mentally. And it takes you a long time to bounce back.”

When the Padres and Rockies split their four-game series June 13-16 at Colorado, they set a modern record with 92 combined runs. Their 131 hits were the second-most in a four-game series. The back-and-forth games were dramatic, stressful and exhausting.

“There were some rough outings for some of our pitchers and some of their pitchers,” Black said. “That takes some time to bounce back from -- maybe not as long as you think, because big leaguers are big leaguers for a reason. But that was still hard. It was hard for the pitchers and hard for the position players.”

Estevez to rejoin Rockies

Right-handed reliever Carlos Estévez is expected to rejoin the Rockies in San Diego, perhaps as soon as Friday, Black said. Estevez will throw a side session, but his return to the active roster is to be determined.

Estevez, who has a 4.26 ERA in 51 appearances, is on the family medical emergency list.

“His wife delivered a baby a couple days ago,” Black said. “Quite a bit early, but the baby and the mom are doing fine, and he’s doing fine. He should be reporting back to us soon.”

Notable

• Outfielder David Dahl (right high ankle sprain) is getting treatment in Arizona and there is no timeline for his return, Black said.

• Right-hander Peter Lambert, who allowed nine runs in three innings Wednesday at Houston to push his ERA to 6.87, will remain in the rotation and take his regular turn Monday at Arizona, Black said.