There is currently a logjam atop the National League West division as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies are all within three games of each other with less than two months left in the season.
This weekend will be an important one for two of those teams with the Dodgers traveling to Coors Field beginning on Thursday night for a four-game series with the Rockies. The Dodgers have an opportunity to distance themselves from Colorado and make it a two-team race, while the Rockies have a chance to close the 2.5-game gap between them and Los Angeles.
After missing the last two weeks with a toe injury, Ross Stripling returns from the disabled list and gets the start on the mound in the series opener for the Dodgers.
Overall in 27 games (16 starts) this season, Stripling is 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA, 3.07 FIP and 1.14 WHIP while striking out 119 and walking just 15 in 104 innings.
He struggled a bit in his two starts after the All-Star break before going on the disabled list though, going 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA. He gave up a combined 14 hits and nine runs in 8.1 innings. In 25 career innings against Colorado though, he has pitched to a 2.88 ERA.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson takes the ball for the Rockies and he will look to bounce back after a rough start against the Milwaukee Brewers last week in which he gave up seven hits and seven runs in four innings.
He has started 23 games this season, going 6-4 with a 4.05 ERA, 4.51 FIP and 1.21 WHIP with 121 strikeouts and 47 walks in 131 innings. The 28-year-old has faced Los Angeles nine times in his career, going 3-3 with A 4.09 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.
Brian Dozier is hitting leadoff for the second time in three days for the Dodgers. Since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins, he is slashing .333/.481/.762 with two home runs and seven RBI in seven games.
The Dodgers hope to slow down Rockies All-Star shortstop Trevor Story, who has swung the bat well over the last week. In his last five games, he is hitting .333/.333/.810 with three home runs and eight RBI.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
SS: Manny Machado
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Kiké Hernandez
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Chris Taylor
P: Ross Stripling
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: DJ Lemahieu
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
3B: Nolan Arenado
SS: Trevor Story
LF: David Dahl
1B: Ian Desmond
C: Chris Iannetta
P: Tyler Anderson
