Dodgers at Rockies
The Los Angeles Dodgers' spot in the postseason is secure and they already wrapped up homefield advantage, making the final weekend of the regular season nothing more than a tune up. The Colorado Rockies, who host the Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday, are trying to lock up their own spot in the National League playoffs.
The Rockies enter the final series two games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the race for the second wild card after pounding the Miami Marlins 15-9 on Wednesday. "Any win is really big right now," Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado told reporters after the victory. "I mean, we've got to win every game we can. It was huge. It was just great to win the way we did and score all those runs. Just to score a lot of runs like that, it's a confidence booster." The Dodgers are rolling into the final weekend strong and outscored the San Diego Padres 28-5 in a three-game sweep this week. The Rockies will try to slow that Los Angeles offense with right-hander Chad Bettis on Friday while the Dodgers counter with lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet Los Angeles, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-8, 3.47 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chad Bettis (1-4, 5.72)
Ryu left his last start in the third inning after being drilled in the forearm by a comebacker but came through a bullpen session on Tuesday with no issues and will get a chance to prove he deserves a spot in the postseason rotation on Friday. The South Korea native allowed one or no runs in seven of his last nine outings. Ryu suffered through his worst start of the season at Colorado on May 11, when he was rocked for 10 runs - five earned - on eight hits and six walks in four innings.
Bettis did not make it through six innings in any of his last six outings and lost his last two starts. The Texas Tech product was ripped for five runs on three hits and three walks in one-third of an inning at Arizona on Sep. 14 and lasted 4 2/3 frames at San Diego on Saturday while surrendering one run and seven hits. Bettis' lone win on the season came at Los Angeles on Sep. 9, when he held the Dodgers to four runs - three earned - on six hits while striking out five in as many innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers OF Chris Taylor left Wednesday's game with a left knee contusion and is day-to-day.
2. Colorado CF Charlie Blackmon is 7-for-18 with five runs scored and five RBIs in the last four games.
3. Los Angeles needs a three-game sweep to match the club record of 105 victories.