Los Angeles @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 3, Colorado 4

The Colorado Rockies have never won the National League West in their 25-plus years of existence, but Trevor Story appears to be on a mission to change that this season. With the day off to appreciate his first career three-homer game, the 25-year-old shortstop sets his sights on trying to help the Rockies pad their 1 1/2-game division lead Friday when they begin a three-game set at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Story enjoyed a brilliant start to the beginning of his club's 10-game homestand earlier this week, finishing 6-for-12 with five homers and eight RBIs during Colorado's three-game sweep of San Francisco, including one home run estimated to have traveled a club-record 505 feet in Wednesday's 5-3 triumph. The one-time All-Star has been red-hot during a six-game hitting streak, going 12-for-24 while recording five multi-hit efforts during his run. Story has yet to hit a home run in 47 at-bats this season versus the Dodgers, who briefly held the division lead at the end of last weekend before dropping two of three to the New York Mets. Los Angeles also lost three of four at Coors Field last month and are expected to be without closer Kenley Jansen this weekend after a team cardiologist recommended he remain home after experiencing an irregular heartbeat - thought be caused by the increased elevation in Colorado - that led to a trip to the hospital during the Dodgers' last trip to Denver.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (6-5, 2.40 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (11-7, 4.70)

Kershaw is unbeaten in his last seven outings, but he settled for his fourth no-decision over that stretch Saturday against Arizona after surrendering two solo homers among the four hits he allowed over seven innings. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has logged 11 straight quality starts and been particularly stingy since the All-Star break, going 3-1 with a 1.94 ERA while striking out 49 and walking three. Nolan Arenado (16-for-49, three homers) and Charlie Blackmon (15-for-48, home run) have fared well against Kershaw, who is 9-4 with a 4.65 ERA in 20 starts at Coors Field.

Gray improved to 5-0 during his 12-game undefeated streak with Saturday's victory at San Diego despite permitting two solo shots among the seven hits he yielded in six frames. The Oklahoma native has managed only one strikeout in each of his last two turns spanning 12 2/3 innings, however, after fanning 71 across his previous 64 2/3 frames. Max Muncy (2-for-3) is one of several Dodgers with one home run versus Gray, who was tagged for four runs in 5 2/3 frames during a no-decision against Los Angeles on Aug. 10.

WALK-OFFS

1. With 31 homers in 2018, Story is one of only two shortstops in team history with at least 30 in a season.

2. Jansen is expected to rejoin the team Monday for the opener of a three-game series at Cincinnati.

3. Los Angeles RHP Ross Stripling (back) is expected to rejoin the team from the disabled list Saturday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Rockies 4