The Los Angeles Dodgers have another shot for a series win at Coors Field following their 7-6 loss in the final inning on Wednesday night against the Colorado Rockies.
The Dodgers have Gavin Stone on the mound making his first career start at Coors Field. Stone has faced the Rockies one time in his career and that came on June 2 at Dodger Stadium. He was credited with the win in that game after pitching five scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts.
Stone’s development has continued to be one of the most compelling storylines for the Dodgers this season. He owns a 7-2 record with a 3.01 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 1.21 WHIP in 74.2 innings this season.
The Dodgers will be looking to get some length from Stone with a weakened bullpen and decently high usage the past two games. Stone has had a knack for pitching deep into games this season, and it’s something Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has given him credit for.
The Rockies are countering with left-hander Ty Blach, who is making his 12th start of the season. Blach owns a 3-3 record with a 5.06 ERA in his last seven games, and has a 4.65 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 50.1 innings overall.
He excels at limiting walks but not much else, and mostly utilizes a sinker and changeup with the occasional cutter and curveball. He is a bit of a contradiction on the mound as he is not a big strikeout threat, but does generate a good amount of chase from batters.
In three games without Mookie Betts, the Dodgers offense has been able to be productive with 26 runs in the series so far, though the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field certainly help.
Teoscar Hernández is back in the Dodgers lineup after leaving the game in the seventh inning on Wednesday. Roberts said it was to get Hernández some rest, but it was unusual in a two-run game.
With the lefty on the mound, Chris Taylor and Miguel Vargas also get a start, replacing Gavin Lux and Jason Heyward.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
C: Will Smith
1B: Freddie Freeman
RF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Andy Pages
SS: Miguel Rojas
LF: Miguel Vargas
3B: Kiké Hernández
2B: Chris Taylor
Rockies lineup
CF: Brenton Doyle
LF: Sean Bouchard
3B: Ryan McMahon
1B: Michael Toglia
DH: Elehuris Montero
RF: Jake Cave
C: Hunter Goodman
SS: Alan Trejo
2B: Adael Amador
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