After trading a pair of 4-2 victories, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies wrap up a pivotal series at Coors Field. A win on Sunday will pull the Dodgers back to within a half-game for first place in the National League West.
The teams will next meet Monday, Sept. 17, for the start of a three-game set at Dodger Stadium. But first things first, and for the rubber match the Dodgers send Rich Hill to the mound.
He was initially slated to pitch in Monday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds but was swapped in the rotation order with Alex Wood. Hill allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings when he started at Coors Field last month.
Overall, the veteran left-hander is 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA, 4.20 FIP and 1.22 WHIP in 21 games (20 starts) this season. Hill has been particularly effective during the second half, going 5-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched over nine starts.
The Rockies counter with another southpaw in Tyler Anderson. He’s 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season. Anderson has 18 strikeouts against five walks across 19 innings in those games.
After getting chased in the first inning by the St. Louis Cardinals, Anderson bounced back his last time out to record seven strikeouts and allow three runs on six hits while pitching into the sixth inning.
Anderson is just 6-7 with a 4.80 ERA this season, and has pitched to marginal success at Coors Field — going 2-5 with a 4.34 ERA.
Although the strategy didn’t completely pay off Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is again opting for a lineup that’s filled with right-handed batters. Chris Taylor did hit his first home run since Aug. 24, and he’s one reason Roberts is optimistic the lineup will begin producing.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Manny Machado
RF: Matt Kemp
1B: David Freese
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
P: Rich Hill
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: DJ LeMahieu
3B: Nolan Arenado
SS: Trevory Story
LF: Matt Holliday
1B: Ian Desmond
RF: Gerardo Parra
C: Chris Iannetta
P: Tyler Anderson
