Colorado @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2013 ) Colorado 1, LA Dodgers 6
Finally above .500, the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to extend their winning streak to six contests when they continue their four-game set against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday. Los Angeles rolled to a 6-1 triumph in the series opener as Chris Capuano tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Mark Ellis hit a pair of two-run singles. It was the 16th victory in 19 games for the surging Dodgers (46-45), who climbed above the break-even mark for the first time since they were 7-6 on April 15.
Ellis led a 13-hit attack with three singles while four others recorded two hits apiece for Los Angeles, which remained 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. Yasiel Puig had two singles for his 18th multi-hit performance in 36 major-league games. Colorado, which trails Arizona by 4 1/2 games, has lost eight of its last 11 contests and 11 of 16.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (4-4, 5.31 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 1.89)
Nicasio looks to halt a personal seven-start winless streak as he takes his first turn since surrendering seven runs - six earned - and 12 hits over just 2 1/3 innings in a loss at Boston on June 25. The 26-year-old Dominican made two starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs afterward, including an outing in which he tossed eight scoreless frames. Nicasio yielded three runs over four innings in a no-decision at Los Angeles on May 1 and is 1-2 with a 5.22 ERA in six career starts vs. the Dodgers.
Kershaw enters having worked at least eight innings in each of his last three starts - all victories - while allowing a total of three runs in that span. The 25-year-old went 0-3 over his six outings prior to the current streak, yielding more than three runs only twice. Kershaw improved to 8-4 lifetime against the Rockies on July 2, when he struck out eight in a four-hit shutout in Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kershaw has thrown three of his 11 career complete games and two of his seven shutouts this season.
2. Gonzalez hit his NL-leading 25th homer hours after withdrawing from the upcoming Home Run Derby. He will be replaced in the event by Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez.
3. Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki (rib) and CF Dexter Fowler (wrist) each went 0-for-4 Thursday after being activated from the disabled list earlier in the day.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Rockies 1