Colorado @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2010 ) LA Dodgers 1, Colorado 3
The Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers have been two of the more perplexing teams over the first five weeks of the season.
Both teams would like to get things in gear this weekend when they square off in a three-game series that begins tonight in Los Angeles.
The Rockies have a .500 record based primarily on the pitching of Ubaldo Jimenez (6-0) and strong work from the bullpen.
The Dodgers (12-16) are mired in last place in the National League West despite beating Milwaukee on Thursday on Andre Ethier’s ninth-inning grand slam. Only the lowly Houston Astros possess a worse record in the NL.
The Dodgers are hopeful of getting outfielder Manny Ramirez (calf) back from a rehab assignment this weekend and are also playing without shortstop Rafael Furcal (hamstring).
Meanwhile, Colorado is hoping the two big bats in the middle of the lineup will eventually get rolling.
First baseman Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki have combined for just one home run over the Rockies’ first 28 games.
The 36-year-old Helton is no longer the hitting force he was early in his career and has just four extra-base hits (all doubles) this season. He’s batting .284 after going 6-for-16 (.375) over the last four games but has just six RBIs.
Helton used to be a virtual hitting machine but hasn’t hit 20 homers in a season since 2005 and last drove in 100 runs in 2003.
Tulowitzki appeared on the edge of greatness when he hit 32 homers and had a .552 slugging percentage last season. But the power has been nowhere to be found this season with just one homer and a .411 slugging percentage.
Tulowitzki’s only homer this season came on April 20 and he hasn’t driven in a run since April 28. He has just 13.
Second baseman Clint Barmes also has struggled before having five RBIs in the series against the San Diego Padres. Barmes has just one homer this season after slugging a career-best 23 last season.
Los Angeles starter Hiroki Kuroda will attempt to keep the trio from breaking out big.
Kuroda has been the lone standout starter for the Dodgers, compiling a 3-1 record and 2.08 ERA over his five starts. Kuroda has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of the starts.
However, Kuroda hasn’t had any success against Colorado in three career outings. He’s 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA against the Rockies.
The Dodgers have won more than two consecutive games just once all season and have been shoddy defensively as well as struggling on the mound. Ramirez had just 41 at-bats before going on the disabled list on April 23.
Colorado’s Esmil Rogers (0-1) is making his second start of the season. He went just four innings against San Francisco on May 1, allowing five runs – four earned – and five hits.