Los Angeles @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 4, Colorado 2

If the Colorado Rockies are going to win their first National League West title, they’ll need their star third baseman to return to form over the final few weeks of the season. Following another quiet performance, Nolan Arenado looks to get untracked Saturday as the Rockies continue their crucial three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

Matt Holliday homered, but Arenado committed a key error and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday’s 4-2 loss as the Rockies had their five-game winning streak come to an end and saw their division lead over the Dodgers reduced to one-half game. Arenado remains in the NL Most Valuable Player discussion with 31 homers and 93 RBIs, but he’s 5-for-39 over his last 10 games while playing through lingering shoulder pain. The Dodgers improved to 10-3 in their last 13 games as Clayton Kershaw tossed six strong innings and Kenta Maeda finished the ninth in place of closer Kenley Jansen, who did not make the trip to Colorado after experiencing an irregular heartbeat in his previous visit to Denver. Yasiel Puig homered and drove in two runs after going 8-for-49 with 14 strikeouts over his last 15 games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (6-4, 2.92 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (13-7, 2.96)

Buehler owns a 1.48 ERA over his past seven starts after allowing one run and two hits over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Sunday. “When he gets the ball now, there is 100 percent conviction that is the right pitch and that pitch is able to get major-league hitters out.” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. The 24-year-old rookie has posted a 4.07 ERA in seven career games (three starts) versus Colorado – including seven scoreless innings on Aug. 11.

Freeland won his fourth straight decision on Sunday, allowing three runs and seven hits over six frames against San Diego. The 25-year-old native of Denver has gone 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 75-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 starts since June 16. Justin Turner is 10-for-17 against Freeland, who is 1-3 with a 3.90 ERA in six career starts versus the Dodgers – including 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in two outings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are 8-1 in their last nine games against NL West opponents.

2. Since June 28, the Rockies have gone a combined 29-6 when Freeland (11-1), Jon Gray (9-2) and German Marquez (9-3) start on the mound.

3. The Dodgers activated RHP Ross Stripling from the 10-day disabled list.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Rockies 4