Can Rockies finally break through vs. Dodgers?
The Colorado Rockies have done well against plenty of teams, especially in their own division. The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't one of those teams.
Since last September, Colorado has gone 18-4 against every NL West club but the Dodgers, but is just 1-7 against the perennial NL West Division champions. The last two losses have been especially stinging:
Last Oct. 1 in Los Angeles, the Dodgers won Game 163 in a one-game playoff to claim the division.
Then on Friday Los Angeles ruined Colorado's home opener with a 10-6 win.
The good news with baseball is the next game is usually the next day, and that's all the Rockies can hold onto during this stretch. The weekend series continues on Saturday night with right-hander Jon Gray trying to slow down L.A.'s potent offense. Righty Walker Buehler is on the mound for the Dodgers.
Buehler (0-0, 15.00) struggled in his first start against Arizona, which was in part due to shortened spring training. He has had some success against the Rockies, however, including 6 2/3 innings of one-hit ball in the game on Oct. 1.
Buehler said he is not concerned with one bad outing after making just one start in the exhibition season.
"I'm not worried about my stuff and my arm," Buehler told reporters after getting a no-decision in the 8-7 win over the Diamondbacks on Sunday. "I just didn't set (pitches) up the right way. I didn't put pitches where I needed to get the swing and miss. We'll look at it and move forward."
If anyone can relate to struggles it's Gray. He was once considered the ace of the staff but he had fallen off so much last season that he was left off Colorado's playoff roster. He said at the end of last season he was determined to get back to his old self, and in his first start against Miami on Sunday he looked like it.
Gray (0-1, 4.05) struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings in a loss to the Marlins before cramping in his right calf ended his day. He said after the game he didn't expect it to linger and that he will be good to go against the Dodgers.
"My stuff felt really good, and I thought I did a really good job understanding what my pitches needed to do," Gray said after giving up three runs to Miami. "I feel like there is still some work to be done, but overall I feel like I'm right where I need to be."
He'll be tested against a potent L.A. offense that keeps putting up runs in bunches. The Dodgers hit three more home runs in the win Friday, giving them 21 in eight games this season.
Conversely, Colorado's offense has been absent much of this season. After putting up six runs in each of the first two games the Rockies scored a total of two in their last four road games. They broke out in the home opener with six runs again, as Trevor Story had two homers to give him three of Colorado's five home runs this season.
If Colorado wants to end the Dodgers' dominance over them they'll need more bats to come alive and Gray to take care of business.
--Field Level Media
