After taking two of three from the Cincinnati Reds, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies for the final time this season.
The Dodgers sit one game behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West with a record of 96-54. The Rockies at 70-79 have already been eliminated from playoff contention, so they just look to help stop the Dodgers from winning their ninth consecutive division title.
Both teams have played good baseball recently, with the Dodgers going 8-2 over their last 10 while the Rockies have gone 7-3.
Julio Urias makes the start for L.A. as he looks to add to his Major League-leading 18 wins. This season, he has stepped up to become another ace the Dodgers can rely on, posting a 2.99 ERA and 3.24 FIP across a career-high 168.1 innings while also striking out nearly 27% of hitters and walking 5%.
Urias has faced the Rockies three times this season, pitching 18.2 innings total and posting an ERA of 4.34 with two of those three starts coming at Coors Field, where his ERA is 3.55 in 12.2 innings.
Colorado has had success against southpaws this season, hitting .265/.334/.445, however, it has to be questioned how much of that is due to playing most of their games at Coors Field. Their team wRC+ against lefties is 5% below league average.
The Rockies send Antonio Senzatela to the mound, who has been good by their team’s pitcher standards, posting a 4.06 ERA and 3.65 FIP in 144 innings while only striking out 16% of hitters.
Despite his overall success, the Dodgers have given Senzatela a lot of bad memories. In three starts against them this season, he has only thrown 13 innings and has an ERA of 7.62. His career numbers against the Dodgers aren’t much better as he has a 6.18 ERA in 55.1 innings against L.A.
The Dodgers are hitting a solid .243/.335/.417 with a 106 wRC+ against right-handers, but their total numbers have been dragged down due to their recent offensive struggles.
There is a very high chance this series is the last time the Dodgers face Trevor Story in a Rockies uniform as the star shortstop is scheduled to become a free agent after the season. Story has been with Colorado since his debut in 2016 and during that time he has hit .272/.339/.525 with a 112 wRC+ and 157 home runs in 735 games.
For the scoreboard watchers, the Giants face the San Diego Padres, who have fallen four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot.
Meanwhile, Cody Bellinger was a late scratch from the lineup as he continues to deal with discomfort due to a non-displaced fracture in his left ribs. The Dodgers placed Bellinger on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Sept. 18) and recalled Luke Raley.
Dodgers lineup
CF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
LF: Gavin Lux
RF: Luke Raley
P: Julio Urias
Rockies lineup
CF: Garrett Hamspon
2B: Brendan Rodgers
SS: Trevor Story
RF: Charlie Blackmon
1B: C.J. Cron
C: Elias Diaz
3B: Ryan McMahon
LF: Ryan Vilade
P: Antonio Senzatela
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