The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants, 9-3, in Wednesday’s rubber match to give them a six-game lead over San Francisco in the division. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the National League West is five entering play Thursday.
Los Angeles now faces the Colorado Rockies in the opener of their final home series this season. The weekend will include several honors and a celebration of Vin Scully’s Hall of Fame career. But first comes the return of Brett Anderson.
He was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday, and takes the mound in a Major League game for the first time since Aug. 20.
Anderson was removed from that start due to a troublesome blister that flared up. He’s only made two starts this season after recovering from back surgery, leaving both outings with separate injuries.
In Anderson’s 2016 debut, he was removed after just one inning due to a milf left wrist sprain. He allowed five hits, five runs and a pair of homers prior to the early exit. On the year he’s allowed 11 earned runs and three home runs in just four-plus innings of work.
Thursday’s start comes six days after Anderson was last on the mound. He allowed one run on three hits and had five strikeouts in five innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League championship series.
Anderson made four starts against Colorado last season and went 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched. He’s opposed in the series opener by Tyler Chatwood.
The 26-year-old is 11-9 with a 4.13 ERA, 4.40 FIP and 1.41 WHIP in 25 starts this season. He has been dominant in 11 road starts, going 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. However, Chattwood owns a 5.67 ERA in 13 starts since June 11.
Chatwood has faced Los Angeles three times in his career, going 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA. Adrian Gonzalez is a career 6-for-22 with one home run off the right-hander.
Andrew Toles gets the start in left field and bats second for the Dodgers. It’s the highest batting order the speedy outfielder has been in this season.
Toles has been a pleasant surprise since being called up prior to the All-Star break, batting .341/.398/.568 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored. Justin Turner gets the day off as Howie Kendrick makes a rare start at third base and bats eighth.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
LF: Andrew Toles
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Josh Reddick
CF: Joc Pederson
3B: Howie Kendrick
P: Brett Anderson
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: DJ LeMahieu
3B: Nolan Arenado
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
C: Nick Hundley
LF: David Dahl
1B: Stephen Cardullo
SS: Daniel Descalso
P: Tyler Chatwood
