After suffering a crushing defeat in extra innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to get back on track Saturday against the Colorado Rockies.
This week has been one to forget for the Dodgers, but the team must keep pushing on as it fights to stay alive in the ever-competitive National League West race. Friday’s loss marked the Dodgers’ third straight and fourth over their last five games.
On Tuesday, L.A. was only one game behind the San Francisco Giants for the division lead. Heading into Saturday’s game, they remain in second place and trail the Giants by three games.
Tony Gonsolin leads the charge to right the ship for the Dodgers in his ninth start of the season. He enters Saturday’s contest with a 1-1 record and a 2.83 ERA.
In his most recent outing against the Giants earlier this week, Gonsolin surrendered three earned runs and a season-high five hits through 3.1 innings. Saturday marks his first time facing the Rockies since September 2020.
Kyle Freeland toes the rubber for Colorado, making his 11th start of the season. His most recent outing also came against the Dodgers, a less-than-ideal performance in which he was charged with a loss after allowing three earned runs over six innings.
On the year, Freeland owns a 1-4 record and a 5.36 ERA.
Freeland is no stranger to Dodger Stadium, as Saturday marks his seventh career start there. That is tied with Petco Park for the site of the most road starts Freeland has made in his career. In his previous outings at Dodger Stadium, the southpaw is 0-2 record with a 4.06 ERA.
As has been the case all season long, notable players will be out of the Dodgers lineup. Cody Bellinger is unavailable after exiting the series opener with left hamstring tightness, an injury that has pestered him for quite some time this season.
Max Muncy is on the second day of paternity leave, and Mookie Betts likely will not play until next week’s series against the Giants. The Dodgers added to their group of position players by recalling Luke Raley and optioning Darien Nuñez to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Meanwhile, Joe Kelly is not expected to be available until Sunday due to soreness. To bring in a fresh arm, the Dodgers recalled Mitch White and placed Jimmie Sherfy on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
CF: AJ Pollock
1B: Albert Pujols
C: Austin Barnes
2B: Sheldon Neuse
RF: Billy McKinney
LF: Luke Raley
P: Tony Gonsolin
Rockies lineup
LF: Raimel Tapia
2B: Garrett Hampson
RF: Charlie Blackmon
SS: Trevor Story
3B: Ryan McMahon
1B: C.J. Cron
CF: Sam Hilliard
C: Dom Nuñez
P: Kyle Freeland
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