Colorado @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2010 ) Colorado 3, LA Dodgers 2

Ted Lilly has been splendid since the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him from the Chicago Cubs late last month.

The left-hander is 3-0 in three starts for the Dodgers. He looks to keep his perfect slate intact today, when the Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a three-game series.

Lilly has allowed just four runs and 10 hits in 19 innings while giving Los Angeles’ pitching rotation a much-needed boost. His three Dodgers’ victories match the number of wins he had in 18 starts for Chicago. Lilly has posted a 1.89 earned-run average to lower his season ERA to 3.44. He is now 6-8.

Lilly’s stellar production is keeping Los Angeles on the fringe of the National League wild-card race. Colorado is also fighting for its wild-card life. The two teams split the first two games of the series.

One player Lilly probably won’t have to face Thursday is Rockies star Carlos Gonzalez, who bruised his right knee during Wednesday’s game, when he crashed into the right-field wall while making a great catch on Casey Blake’s deep drive.

Gonzalez, among the NL batting leaders with a .318 average, is considered day-to-day.

Colorado will be short of outfielders today, as the team is expected to part ways with former All-Star Brad Hawpe. The Rockies were unable to trade Hawpe after he cleared waivers earlier this week.

The Rockies will send left-hander Jorge De La Rosa to the mound. De La Rosa has pitched well recently after missing 2 1/2 months due to a finger injury to his pitching hand.

Though he has just victory over his last five outings, De La Rosa has given up three runs or less in each of the starts, while lowering his ERA from 6.16 to 4.99.

De La Rosa won 16 games last season and seemed on the verge of becoming one of the NL’s top starters prior to the injury. He is 4-3 this season.

The Dodgers have hit De La Rosa hard during his 11 career appearances (seven starts). De La Rosa is 0-5 with a 6.58 ERA against Los Angeles.

Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp is a .500 hitter in 18 career at-bats against De La Rosa. He has two homers and three doubles among nine hits. First baseman James Loney is 8-for-15 (.533) with a homer and seven RBIs.

Los Angeles shortstop Rafael Furcal will undergo a bone scan on his injured back Thursday.

Jamey Carroll continues to prosper during Furcal’s absence and is batting .406 (13-for-32) over his last nine games. Carroll is batting .288 on the season.