The Los Angeles Dodgers have an opportunity to put the Colorado Rockies in a three-game hole on the road on Saturday. After a 13-run explosion in the opener, the Dodgers’ bats came back down to Earth in Friday’s rematch. But it still wasn’t enough for the Rockies to steal an upset and even up the series. The road to a victory will only get tougher in the third matchup with the Dodgers starting left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw against Colorado’s Kyle Freeland.
The Dodgers didn’t need to blow up the scoreboard on Friday night to take another commanding win at Coors Field. Julio Urias pitched a seven-inning gem and only yielded two runs in the process, and despite a late scare, the relievers held up the rest of the way. Stop the bats and you stop the Rockies.
It really is that simple.
Clayton Kershaw is more than capable of keeping the defensive pressure on the Rockies when he toes the rubber as the starting pitcher on Saturday. The veteran lefty is throwing a 2.49 ERA with a 7-2 record on the season. He should also be throwing with a bit of anger after a lackluster showing against the San Francisco Giants in his last outing.
The Rockies are obviously dogs in these games, but it’s still hard to believe they’ve only mustered four combined runs in back-to-back games at Coors Field. They’ ;re the best run-scoring team in the league when playing in their home building this season.
Considering how bad the Rockies have been defensively, the Dodgers’ bats have nothing to fear at the plate against this Colorado team.