After a grueling stretch where they played 33 games in 34 days, the Colorado Rockies find themselves reinvigorated as they enjoyed a second day off in a five-day window on Monday. The rest and recuperation appear to be a well-timed preparation strategy as they brace for a formidable challenge in the upcoming three-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The series opener is set to take place on Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. ET, with betting odds favoring the Los Angeles Dodgers at -3 (-106) run line, -286 money line, and over 12 (+105). The Colorado Rockies stand at +3 (-118) run line, +240.
According to this guide the Dodgers are a heavy -350 favorite to win the short series.
Los Angeles starts Clayton Kershaw in the series opener. With a season record of 9-4 and an impressive 2.72 ERA, Kershaw will face Colorado’s Connor Seabold, who stands at 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA.
At 35, Kershaw has amassed much experience but has not been immune to injuries throughout his 16-season career. As he reached the twilight of his career, many expected him to hand over the mantle to the younger generation of pitchers. Contrarily, he has been the bedrock of a beleaguered Dodgers’ rotation that has been besieged by injuries to key starters, including Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Dustin May, and most recently, Noah Syndergaard.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hailed Kershaw’s resilience, stating, “He’s the only one standing from Opening Day.” Roberts further praised Kershaw’s ability to shoulder responsibility without succumbing to pressure. “I just can’t imagine where we’d be without him,” he added.
Kershaw’s performances in June have been exemplary, boasting a 3-0 record with a 1.33 ERA in four starts, pitching seven innings in three of those games and covering 27 innings in total. He reflected on his performances by saying, “I get paid to pitch and to pitch every fifth day or sixth day or whatever it is. Those years in the past, I feel like, are aberrations. This is what it’s supposed to look like to be healthy and pitch.”
With 48 starts against the Rockies, Kershaw is no stranger to this opponent. He holds a 26-11 record against Colorado with a 3.40 ERA. In his 26 starts at Coors Field, his record stands at 11-8 with a 4.82 ERA.
On the other side, Connor Seabold will be looking to make a statement for the Rockies. The Californian native has a brief history against the Dodgers, with just one relief appearance that did not go well, as he conceded four runs on five hits in three innings on April 3. Seabold joined the Rockies’ rotation due to a flurry of injuries and will be eager to make an impact.
Additionally, the Rockies were buoyed by the return of their first baseman, C.J. Cron, who was reinstated from the injured list on Monday after missing 38 games with back muscle spasms. Rockies manager Bud Black commented on his relatively young team’s challenges, remarking, “This is the school of hard knocks. Several guys are going through it.”
