Dodgers at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have struggled against left-handers this season and
Tuesday’s opposing pitcher has a track record that is capable of making
matters worse. Ted Lilly, who was 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in four starts
against the Rockies in 2011, will take the ball as the Los Angeles
Dodgers meet the Rockies in Denver on Tuesday. Colorado is batting .234
against left-handers and its top two left-handed hitters – Carlos
Gonzalez and Todd Helton – are a combined .173 (9-for-52) against
southpaws in 2012. Gonzalez, though, is 6-for-15 lifetime against Lilly
with four homers. Even right-handed hitting Troy Tulowitzki has
struggled against lefties (.143, 3-for-21) in 2012.
The Rockies
won Monday’s series opener 6-2 and kept the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp in check –
sort of. Kemp homered in the first inning but struck out with the bases
loaded and none out in the sixth. Kemp leads the major leagues with 12
homers, 25 RBIs (tied with Josh Hamilton) and a .417 average as the
Dodgers have ridden his fast start to a National League-best 16-7
record.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), ROOT Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (2-0, 0.90 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (0-2, 5.85)
Lilly
has allowed three runs (two earned) in 20 innings this season. He would
be 3-0 if the bullpen didn’t blow his most recent gem – one run and
three hits allowed in seven innings in a 4-2 loss to Atlanta on
Wednesday. Lilly has feasted on the Rockies with an 8-2 career record
and 70 strikeouts in 68 innings. Ramon Hernandez has enjoyed success
against him (7-for-19, two homers), while Tulowitzki (.154, 4-for-26)
and Dexter Fowler (.136, 3-for-22) have not.
Chacin has struggled
this season and his last start was no exception as he allowed five runs
and eight hits in five innings in Colorado’s 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh on
Wednesday. Chacin, though, is 6-4 in 10 career starts against Los
Angeles with a 2.39 ERA. The Dodgers’ roster is hitting .270 against him
with James Loney 7-for-23, but Chacin has solved Kemp (4-for-26, homer,
eight strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado third baseman Chris Nelson is 9-for-19 against left-handers, by far the best among Rockies' regulars.
2. Lost in the Kemp hoopla is the start by teammate Andre Ethier, who has five homers and 24 RBIs.
3. Gonzalez is 8-for-15 with two homers and nine RBIs in his last four games.