Dodgers at Rockies
Before opening a three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Friday evening, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be anxiously awaiting news on ace Clayton Kershaw. The three-time Cy Young Award winner will undergo an MRI on his back after it tightened up during a five-inning start Thursday against Philadelphia.
In his first turn since landing on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis on May 1, Kershaw gave up one run and four hits as Los Angeles split the four-game series against the Phillies with Thursday’s 2-1 loss. The injury-plagued Dodgers have won 10 of their last 14 games and are tied for third place in the National League West with San Francisco. Colorado leads the division by 1 1/2 games over Arizona and boasts one of the league’s hottest hitters in Nolan Arenado, a five-time Gold Glove winner who is 8-for-21 with three home runs and eight RBIs in his last six games. "I think it's just a matter of trying to hit the ball hard, not trying to do too much, staying within myself,” Arenado told reporters. “There's little things, little tweaks that I'm doing that I think are helping me.”
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers TBD vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (3-1, 4.72 ERA)
Alex Wood was scheduled to start but has been bumped back until Sunday due to lingering hamstring cramps. “He threw a bullpen session Thursday and felt good,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “This will give him a couple of extra days to be sure his leg is in good shape, especially going to altitude.” Roberts said he hasn’t decided on a starter for Friday but expects to use multiple relievers - including new arrival Dennis Santana, who has combined to go 1-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 10 starts with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
Anderson came away with a no-decision against Cincinnati on Saturday after giving up three runs while throwing 101 pitches in six innings. The 28-year-old served up two home runs in the contest and has yielded a total of 10 over 55 1/3 frames in 11 outings. Justin Turner is 9-for-17 with a homer against Anderson, who owns a 2-3 record and 4.30 ERA in seven career starts versus the Dodgers - including a 2-2 mark and 3.75 ERA in four turns at Coors Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado OF Charlie Blackmon is 12-for-35 during his eight-game hitting streak.
2. The Dodgers optioned ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte to Triple-A Oklahoma City before Thursday’s game to make room for Kershaw.
3. The Rockies have reached double digits in hits in a season-high five consecutive games.