Colorado @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 29, 2013 ) Colorado 12, LA Dodgers 2

The Colorado Rockies did not arrive in Los Angeles ahead of their series with the Dodgers until 1:30 a.m. PT on Monday because a mechanical issue forced them to change planes in Phoenix. Manager Walt Weiss cancelled batting practice to give his team more rest and his players rewarded him with 12 runs and 19 hits in a blowout victory in the opener. The Rockies will try to continue their much-improved play on the road when they meet the Dodgers in the middle game on Tuesday.

Colorado was 29-52 away from home in 2012 as part of a franchise-worst 64-98 record, but is 7-7 this season. The Rockies lead the majors with a .279 batting average and are .264 on the road - ninth-best in the majors and second in the National League. Dodgers rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu will face the Rockies' Jorge De La Rosa in a battle of left-handers who have a combined 3.15 ERA. De La Rosa is 0-7 with a 6.22 ERA against Los Angeles while Ryu has never faced Colorado.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), KCAL (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jorge De La Rosa (2-2, 2.86 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-1, 3.41)

De La Rosa has pitched six innings in each of his last four starts while splitting four decisions. He allowed five earned runs during that span - a three-run homer to Hunter Pence in a 4-2 loss at San Francisco on April 8 and a two-run shot to Paul Goldschmidt in Thursday's 3-2 setback at Arizona. Matt Kemp (.435, three home runs in 23 at-bats) and Adrian Gonzalez (.357, three homers in 28 at-bats) have been hard on De La Rosa, who has handled Andre Either (1-for-13, six strikeouts).

Ryu has pitched at least six innings in each of his five major-league starts while striking out 34 in 31 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old South Korean has attracted a new legion of fans and is beginning to create a buzz everywhere he pitches. “I was aware there are a lot of Korean Americans here in New York,” Ryu said through a translator following Los Angeles' 3-2 victory over the Mets on Thursday in which he received a no-decision. “It was definitely encouragement.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado, playing in his second game, recorded his first three major-league hits Monday - including a two-run homer - and also scored his first three runs.

2. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez was activated off the 15-day disabled list and struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning Monday. Ramirez broke his thumb during the World Baseball Classic. To make room for Ramirez, LHP Clayton Kershaw was placed on the bereavement list for an undisclosed reason.

3. Colorado SS Troy Tulowitzki did not play and remains day-to-day with a shoulder strain. Tulowitzki left Sunday's game at Arizona after suffering the injury while sliding awkwardly into home plate.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Rockies 2