The Los Angeles Dodgers look to avoid a sweep after dropping the first two games of the series against the Colorado Rockies.
Despite entering the matchup with nearly opposite records, with the Dodgers at 45-26 and the Rockies at 31-42, Colorado shut out L.A. in the series opener before winning 7-4 on Tuesday. The Dodgers remain first in the National League West by 1.5 games over the San Diego Padres, while the Rockies are in last place.
The Dodgers hope Julio Urías can find better success in Coors Field than their previous two left-handed starters had. Tyler Anderson allowed four runs in six innings in the opener, followed by Clayton Kershaw giving up six runs in four innings.
However, like many pitchers, Urías has also had his share of struggles at Coors Field, posting a 5.91 ERA in 42.2 career innings there.
Urías has a 2.48 ERA over 76.1 innings pitched this season, but he has encountered some trouble with the home run and his strikeout numbers are down a bit, which has led to posting a 4.11 FIP.
Although his FIP suggests he is due for regression, Urías has remained effective thanks to the help of some luck and by limiting quality contact well.
The southpaw has thrown six innings in three consecutive starts and nine of his last 11 starts. He has also not allowed more than two runs in a start since May 31.
Urías made his first start of the season against the Rockies, but only lasted two innings while giving up six runs (three earned) in a losing effort on April 10.
The Rockies counter with Germán Márquez, who has been their ace for the past few seasons but has been highly ineffective this season.
Márquez owns a 5.58 ERA this season and 4.86 FIP in 80.2 innings, which is partly a result of seeing his strikeout rate drop and his walk rate rise this season. He has also been troubled by the home run ball and has had some problems stranding runners on base.
Although Márquez has a 4.39 career ERA, he has long been considered someone who would break out if he pitched away from Coors Field more often. His ERA on the road (3.88) is more than a run lower than it is at home (4.93) in his career, but this season his home ERA is close to seven while his road ERA is also up to 4.21.
He last faced the Dodgers on April 9, his first start of the season, and pitched seven innings while giving up one run and striking out five.
This season, the Dodgers are batting .252/.329/.425 with a 114 wRC+ while the Rockies have hit .261/.325/.401 with a 91 wRC+.
Jake Lamb joined the Dodgers on Tuesday and now makes his first start with the team in the series finale.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Max Muncy
RF: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Jake Lamb
2B: Gavin Lux
3B: Eddy Alvarez
Rockies lineup
CF: Yonathan Diaz
DH: Charlie Blackmon
LF: Kris Bryant
1B: C.J. Cron
2B: Brendan Rodgers
SS: José Iglesias
RF: Randal Grichuk
3B: Ryan McMahon
C: Elias Díaz
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