The Los Angeles Dodgers look to take the middle game of their series with the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday with one of their top pitching prospects making a surprise start.
After a July 4th win over the Rockies, the Dodgers have won five of their last six games over National League West opponents. L.A. is currently 3-4 against the Rockies this season and has a chance to even the season series.
The Dodgers come into play with the second-best run differential in Major League Baseball and first in the N.L. They also hold the best record in the league at 50-29 and lead all of baseball with a combined on-base plus slugging of .760.
However, the real story has been their pitching. L.A. has benefitted from incredibly consistent production from their starting pitchers this season, and they currently lead all of baseball with a 2.69 ERA, the New York Yankees are the next closest, with a 3.01 ERA.
The Dodgers were set to send Mitch White to the mound, but they changed course and announced Ryan Pepiot as their starter this afternoon.
“I think the driver was looking at a lot of our starters going on regular (rest) multiple times,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So to kind of drop him in gives everyone an extra day. He’s been throwing the baseball well. So have him going today then we’ll have Mitch going tomorrow.”
To make room for Pepiot on their active roster, the Dodgers optioned Reyes Moronta to Triple-A.
Through three MLB starts, Pepiot has posted a 3.18 ERA, 5.44 FIP and 1.50 WHIP with 13 strikeouts against 11 walks in 11.1 innings pitched. The right-hander, who is one of the top pitching prospects in the Dodgers’ system, was gaining comfort at the Major League level after his previous start in May.
The Rockies counter with Germán Márquez who the Dodgers faced less than a week ago while on the road in Colorado. In that outing, he allowed five earned runs over 3.1 innings, the shortest start he’s made this season.
Márquez is having a rough go of it this year, and his 5.89 ERA in 15 starts is second-worst in MLB among starters with at least 70 innings pitched. His 4.21 ERA in road starts lends a different picture for the 27-year-old, as he has struggled to miss bats, limit walks, and base hits.
The Dodgers will be without utilityman Chris Taylor for a few games as the team evaluates the severity of the ankle injury he suffered in Colorado last week. He was removed from the game on Monday in the sixth inning after the injury flared up while running the bases.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
LF: Jake Lamb
CF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Gavin Lux
Rockies lineup
RF: Connor Joe
LF: Kris Bryant
DH: Charlie Blackmon
1B: C.J. Cron
2B: Brendan Rodgers
3B: Ryan McMahon
SS: José Iglesias
CF: Yonathan Daza
C: Elias Diaz
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
