Los Angeles @ Colorado Preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 10, Colorado 8

The Los Angeles Dodgers were tied with the Colorado Rockies in the National League West - 3 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona - when they acquired right-hander Ricky Nolasco from Miami on July 6. When they send Nolasco to the mound Tuesday in the middle contest of a three-game series against host Colorado, the Dodgers will enjoy an 12 1/2-game lead over the Diamondbacks and are 18 in front of Colorado. Nolasco is 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 10 starts with Los Angeles.

“It feels really good to do it when it means something, like now,” said Nolasco, who was a respectable 81-72 in seven-plus seasons with the Marlins, but is on the verge of his first postseason appearance. The Dodgers have won five straight following their 10-8 victory over the Rockies on Monday. All-Star left fielder Carlos Gonzalez (.302, 26 home runs, 70 RBIs) - on the disabled list since Aug. 7 with a sprained right middle finger - was expected to return to the Colorado lineup Tuesday, but was scratched from his scheduled start at Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday after suffering a setback.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ricky Nolasco (11-9, 3.26 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (13-7, 3.08)

Nolasco hasn't allowed a run in 16 innings over his last two starts by pitching eight frames in victories over the Chicago Cubs 4-0 on Wednesday and Boston on Aug. 23. The 30-year-old Corona, Calif., native's only loss in a Dodgers uniform was a 3-1 decision to Colorado on July 14 and he is 5-0 in eight outings since. Nolasco, who has no-decisions in three of his last four road games, is 6-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against the Rockies - 3-2 with a 5.45 ERA at Coors Field.

Chacin no-hit San Francisco for 6 2/3 innings in his last outing before Brandon Crawford's single ended the bid in Colorado's 5-4 victory on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Venezuelan allowed one run (unearned) and one hit while striking out nine against the Giants to improve to 8-3 at home. Chacin is 8-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) against the Dodgers, but has struggled against Adrian Gonzalez (6-for-10), A.J. Ellis (6-for-15, home run) and Andre Ethier (9-for-24, homer).

EXTRA INNINGS

1. Dodgers rookie RF Yasiel Puig left in the sixth inning Monday with a mild knee strain after sliding awkwardly into third base. He will not play Tuesday, according to manager Don Mattingly, who added he was going to sit Puig anyway.

2. Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki did not play Monday because of leg soreness but is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday, while CF Dexter Fowler (bruised left knee) missed his sixth straight game.

3. The Rockies are 7-7 against the Dodgers as they try to win their first season-series against them since 2007. After Wednesday's contest, Colorado and Los Angeles meet three more times in a season-ending three-game set at Dodger Stadium from Sept. 27-29.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Rockies 2