Fast-starting Dodgers facing road test at Rockies

The Colorado Rockies came within a game of ending the National League West reign of the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, so expectations are higher for this year.

A week into the 2019 campaign, the Dodgers look as formidable as they have the last six seasons and not ready to give up the title of division champions.

Los Angeles bashed its way to a 5-2 homestand and now goes on the road for the first time this season. The first visit is to Denver, where the Rockies will be celebrating their home opener on Friday afternoon. Coors Field will be a welcome sight for a Colorado team that struggled to score runs in its trip to Florida to start the season.

The Rockies won their first two games against the Marlins in Miami, then dropped four in a row before salvaging a 1-0 win in 11 innings over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Colorado scored two runs in the last four games of the road trip and hit a woeful .197.

Moreover, a team known for hitting home runs went deep only twice, including Chris Iannetta's solo shot to win Wednesday's game.

"We need some guys to exhale a little bit," Rockies manager Bud Black said after the 1-0 win. "The last couple of days we were pressing. Guys out of the chute want to perform and want to get off to a good start, and when it doesn't happen, you start pressing."

Iannetta's home run snapped a 22-inning scoreless streak by the Rockies. Conversely, the Dodgers have been hitting well, and with 18 home runs and a team average of .289 heading into a park that is friendly to bats.

"We've hit a lot of homers, but it is a byproduct of us using the big part of the field," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday. "A lot of the homers we hit have been breaking balls in the strike zone because we're looking at staying on the fastball. In years past, we've been exposed to the breaking ball."

Center fielder Enrique Hernandez has led the charge. He has hits in all seven games and is on a 10-game hitting streak dating to last season.

"He's earning every opportunity," Roberts said. "The at-bat quality is good. I think he is continuing to gain confidence."

Los Angeles will try to stay hot on offense against Colorado lefty Tyler Anderson (0-1, 9.00). Anderson struggled in his first outing, a 7-3 loss to the Marlins on Saturday. The Rockies have gotten quality starts from Kyle Freeland and German Marquez but are still searching for consistency from the back end of the rotation.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, are surviving without ace Clayton Kershaw, who is out with shoulder inflammation. Roberts said Kershaw would need to make at least one more rehab start before a decision is made on his return.

Even without Kershaw, L.A. has five quality starts in seven games. Kenta Maeda (1-0, 4.05) has one of them and will be on the mound against the Rockies on Friday. He had more success in relief against Colorado last year than as a starter. He pitched four shutout innings in five appearances against the Rockies, including one in the 163rd game for the division title.

In his last start against Colorado, he allowed three runs in five innings and took a no-decision in a 5-4 loss.

--Field Level Media