Dodgers at Rockies
Despite losing four consecutive games at home, the Los Angeles Dodgers still own the best record in baseball and a comfortable five-game lead in the National League West. The Colorado Rockies are riding their first four-game winning streak since last August. They opened their homestand with a sweep of Houston, but remain 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Dodgers thanks to a 4-16 skid at the beginning of May. Los Angeles has won four of six meetings this year, including the last three, but Colorado won two of three at Coors Field.
All-Star CF Matt Kemp is back on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, but Los Angeles has continued to thrive in his absence due largely to a pitching staff that ranks among the major league leaders in ERA, opponent batting average and several other categories. The Rockies, meanwhile, have hit well but rank at or near the bottom of the majors in nearly every pitching category. Stud shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (groin) was placed on the disabled list Thursday.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports (Los Angeles), ROOT Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (7-1, 2.14 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Josh Outman (0-1, 9.64 ERA)
Capuano has been arguably the most pleasant surprise in the major leagues this season, turning in a Cy Young caliber year so far. He has held foes to a .190 batting average while ranking among the league leaders in WHIP and ERA. Capuano is 5-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 11 starts against the Rockies, including a win on May 11. He allowed one earned run over seven innings in that contest.
Outman gets his first start of the season after 49-year-old Jamie Moyer was designated for assignment Wednesday. The left-hander got off to a rough start, giving up a run without retiring a hitter in his first outing of the season on May 12 at Los Angeles, but he has allowed just one hit and no runs in his last five trips to the mound (2 2/3 IP).
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez is 13-for-20 with six home runs, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored over his last five games. Included in that run was a streak of five consecutive extra-base hits, including four straight homers.
2. Excluding the injured Tulowitzki (5-for-11, two homers), Colorado hitters are a combined 20-for-80 (.250) against Capuano. Gonzalez is 1-for-9 with three strikeouts.
3. The Dodgers have been faring well on Fridays, winning 21 of their last 28 on that day of the week. They have also won eight of their last 11 against NL West opponents and 16-7 overall against the division.