Colorado @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2018 ) Colorado 2, LA Dodgers 8

Two hot left-handed pitchers square off Tuesday, when Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers host Kyle Freeland and the Colorado Rockies for the middle contest of their three-game series. Kershaw has emerged victorious in five consecutive decisions and seven of his last eight, while Freeland has won six straight decisions and nine of his past 10.

Freeland has won his last four starts and will be looking to pitch his team back into first place in the National League West after the Dodgers moved ahead by one-half game with Monday's 8-2 romp. Joc Pederson went 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs while Max Muncy belted a three-run homer as Los Angeles won for the fifth time in six games. Colorado is 1-3 on a nine-game road swing and stands a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL's second wild card. Trevor Story departed in the middle of a fourth-inning at-bat due to an elbow injury that he suffered earlier in the game while making a diving stop and Rockies manager Bud Black said they will re-evaluate the All-Star shortstop on Tuesday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (15-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 2.51)

Freeland is 7-1 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. The 25-year-old has allowed two runs in six of his last eight turns while giving up four or fewer hits four times during that stretch. Freeland is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season and 2-3 with a 3.52 ERA in seven career outings.

Kershaw gave up four runs - three earned - and eight hits over six innings while defeating St. Louis in his last turn after allowing two earned runs or fewer in nine straight starts. The 30-year-old has issued just six walks in 67 2/3 frames over his last 10 outings and has walked just 23 in 23 starts. Kershaw is 22-7 with a 3.21 ERA in 39 career starts against the Rockies, including a victory on Sept. 7 in which he permitted two runs and six hits over six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pederson has recorded four two-homer performances this season, with two coming against Colorado.

2. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado went 2-for-4 in the opener for his fourth multi-hit effort in seven games.

3. Muncy has belted six homers in 44 at-bats against Colorado this season.

PREDICTION: Rockies 3, Dodgers 2