Colorado @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2010 ) Colorado 0, LA Dodgers 6
Two pitchers who have struggled to win games lately square off Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies in the second game of a three-game series.
Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda is just 1-6 over his last eight starts, while Rockies pitcher Jason Hammel is only 1-4 over his last six outings.
Both teams are hoping for a breakthrough pitching performance in the pivotal series between two teams on the outer fringe of the National League wild-card race.
The Dodgers won Tuesday’s opener 6-0 behind the pitching of Clayton Kershaw and a five-run fifth inning. Scott Podsednik and James Loney each delivered two-run doubles in Los Angeles’ big frame.
Kuroda has often been shelled by Colorado during his three seasons with the Dodgers and this season has been no exception.
Kuroda has allowed 12 runs (nine earned) and 19 hits in 9 1/3 innings over two starts against the Rockies this season. He lost one game and took a no-decision in the other.
In five career starts against Colorado, Kuroda is 0-3 with a 7.57 ERA. He had allowed 43 hits in just 27 1/3 innings.
Overall, Kuroda is 8-11 this season with a 3.53 ERA.
Hammel was 7-3 after beating the San Diego Padres on July 10 but has since struggled. He has allowed four or more runs in six of the outings, with his lone victory coming Aug. 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hammel (8-7), who has a 4.42 ERA this season, is making his first start of the season against the Dodgers.
Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had a hitless night on Tuesday for only the third time this month. Tulowitzki is batting .393 (22-for-56) in August.
The Rockies had just six hits in the series opener - two apiece by leadoff man Eric Young and second-place hitter Dexter Fowler.
The big Los Angeles fifth inning included the Dodgers’ first hit – Podsednik’s two-run double – with runners in scoring position in 26 at-bats dating to last Thursday.
The lack of clutch hitting is another example of how badly the Dodgers miss left fielder Manny Ramirez. But good news is on the horizon as Ramirez is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday at Class A Inland Empire.
Ramirez has been sidelined since mid-July with a calf injury that sent him to the disabled list for the third time this season.
The Dodgers were hoping that shortstop Rafael Furcal would also be headed for a rehab stint but those plans were delayed when Furcal reported tightness in his lower back on Tuesday. He will be re-examined on Wednesday.