Dodgers' Ryu aims for bounce-back start vs. Rockies
The prohibitive favorite for the National League Cy Young Award just three weeks ago, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu is simply looking for a decent outing when he takes the mound Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
The Dodgers will be looking for a series sweep after they rallied for a 5-3 victory Tuesday behind late home runs from Russell Martin, David Freese and Justin Turner. Homers have been a signature for the Dodgers, but so had the pitching of Ryu until lately.
The NL starter in the All-Star Game, and the expected No. 1 starter for the Dodgers heading into the upcoming playoffs, Ryu now is a cause for concern for a club that ran into a wall in each of the past two World Series.
Over his past three outings, Ryu has given up 18 earned runs over 14 2/3 innings, taking the loss in each start.
When he beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 11 following a short stint in the injured list caused by neck soreness, Ryu had a microscopic 1.45 ERA. His poor run has pushed his ERA to 2.35, the first time it has been that high since the start of May, 19 starts ago. He has a 12-5 record.
"I don't think my command was as bad as the last two games that I pitched," Ryu told reporters through an interpreter on Thursday after his most recent outing, when the D-backs touched him for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. "But I guess, result-wise, it wasn't there for me."
At 157 1/3 innings, Ryu has already worked more than in any season outside of his rookie year in 2013. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has insisted that fatigue is not an issue. Wednesday's game will clarify that narrative a bit more.
In 13 career starts against the Rockies, Ryu is 4-7 with a 4.86 ERA. This year, he is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts vs. Colorado.
The Rockies will counter with right-hander Antonio Senzatela (8-9, 6.95 ERA), who is looking to salvage something from a disappointing season.
Wednesday will be Senzatela's career-best 21st start of the season, but his ERA is two runs higher than either of his first two seasons and more than 1 1/2 runs over his career mark. He struggled in three July starts, was sent to Triple-A Albuquerque and has struggled in the two outings since he returned.
Senzatela will enter with a 16.81 ERA over his past five starts and 17 2/3 innings. While he has given up just two home runs in that stretch, he has allowed 36 hits and nine walks. He has been dealing with discomfort while throwing his changeup and also struggling with consistency on his slider.
"It's been frustrating, but it's baseball, and some days are going to be bad," Senzatela said, according to MLB.com. "I need to wake up, get my mind ready. Every start the rest of the year is important."
In five career appearances (three starts) against the Dodgers, Senzatela is 2-0 with a 4.42 ERA. He is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two starts (11 1/3 innings) against Los Angeles this season.
The Dodgers enter with 248 home runs, one shy of the Houston Astros' NL record set in 2000.
--Field Level Media
