For the first time since August 23, Tony Gonsolin returns to a Major League mound as the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their six-game series with the Colorado Rockies.
At his time of going on the 15-day injured list because of a right forearm strain, Gonsolin led all National League pitchers with a 2.10 ERA and had amassed a 16-1 record to go along with 116 strikeouts through 23 starts.
For a team that finds themselves in essentially tuneup mode, Gonsolin’s outing could go a long way in shoring up postseason pitching plans.
Gonsolin is back from the IL after making just one rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City in which he completed the targeted two innings. The right-hander is expected to log three innings on Monday night.
Andre Jackson was optioned to OKC as the corresponding move to Gonsolin being activated.
As for the last-place Rockies, they counter with José Ureña in what’s his 17th start of the season.
While Ureña has allowed only four earned runs across his last two outings (both against the San Francisco Giants), in two starts this season against the Dodgers he carries an abysmal 7.45 ERA. Included in that was allowing 10 runs (seven earned) in just three innings of work at Dodger Stadium on July 28.
For a Dodgers team that has outscored the Rockies in the series 17-9, their offense has been led primarily by Cody Bellinger and Trayce Thompson. Bellinger, who collected his 18th home run of the season on Friday, has five hits and six RBIs in the series thus far.
Thompson has an impressive .615 on-base percentage in the first three games thanks to four walks and adding four hits of his own.
With the playoffs looming just one week away, it’s anticipated L.A. will continuing treating their remaining contests as an evaluation period and opportunity to get rest for some players.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Cody Bellinger
DH: Trayce Thompson
LF: Joey Gallo
Rockies lineup
CF: Yonathan Daza
3B: Ryan McMahon
DH: Brendan Rodgers
C: Elias Díaz
RF: Randal Grichuk
LF: Sean Bouchard
2B: Alan Trejo
SS: Ezequiel Tovar
1B: Michael Toglia
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