After dropping the opener at Turner Field against the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded for two consecutive extra-inning victories to get a series win. Now the Dodgers enter the second leg of their six-game road trip as they face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
This is the first meeting between Los Angeles and Colorado this season, with the Dodgers entering Friday’s game holding a 1.5-game lead for first place in the National League West. What’s more, the Dodgers are looking to extend their overall series winning streak this season to four.
First tasked with pitching in the hitter-friendly ballpark is Scott Kazmir. The southpaw is coming off a rough outing against the San Francisco Giants in which he allowed seven hits and four runs in just four innings pitched.
It was Kazmir’s second time facing the Giants in as many starts, and it also marked a consecutive time he was unable to get through five innings. On the season, Kazmir is 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA, 5.49 FIP and 1.43 WHIP over 14 innings pitched.
He’s faced the Rockies once in his career, a start in 2007 at Coors Field during his days with the Tampa Bay Rays. Kazmir picked up a win despite allowing six hits, three runs, two home runs and walking four.
With Clayton Kershaw bearing down to throw eight innings on Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts should have a full complement of relief pitchers. Making the start for the Rockies is Jon Gray.
The Oklahoma native takes the hill for his season debut, after an abdominal sprain landed him on the 15-day disabled list to begin the season. Gray debuted last season, going 0-2 with a 5.53 ERA, 3.63 FIP and 1.62 WHIP in nine starts.
One of those was against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. In the outing, Gray allowed six hits and two runs over 4.2 innings pitched, taking the loss. However, the 24-year-old right-hander did notch eight strikeouts.
In five career starts at Coors Field, Gray is 0-1 with an 8.27 ERA and 2.03 WHIP. He faces a Dodgers lineup that’s remained largely unchanged in recent games. Adrian Gonzalez (95-for-306), Howie Kendrick (15-for-40), Justin Turner (18-for-49) and Chase Utley (53-for-149) have enjoyed plenty of career success at Coors Field.
The Dodgers have lost four consecutive games in the Rockies home ballpark, which their longest losing streak in Denver since 2011 (five games).
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Howie Kendrick
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Scott Kazmir
Rockies lineup:
2B: DJ LeMahieu
SS: Trevor Story
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
3B: Nolan Arenado
1B: Mark Reynolds
CF: Gerardo Parra
LF: Ryan Raburn
C: Tony Wolters
P: Jon Gray
