Dodgers Rockies Game Three Preview

The Dodgers look to take the series from Colorado before heading up north.

Yesterday’s game was frustrating, but the Dodgers pulled off a victory in a Julio Urias start for the first time in his career. He only went four innings and the Rockies tied the game, but he had his best outing and looked a lot more comfortable. It would have been a frustrating game to lose, but Trayce Thompson saved the day with a walk off.

The Red Sox took down the Giants in extras, so the Dodgers shrunk the gap in the division to three games. A win tonight combined with a Giants loss could make the gap two with a three game set starting on Friday. Madison Bumgarner and David Price face off up there, while Kenta Maeda and Chris Rusin get the ball at Dodger Stadium

With short outings by Mike Bolsinger and Urias to start the series, the Dodgers could use some inning-eating out of Maeda today. Maeda hadn’t gone more than five innings in four straight outings, but pitched into the seventh his last time out against the Braves. In 11 starts, Maeda has only made more than 100 pitches three times, including a high of 107 in his last start. That came on extra rest, which is a luxury he doesn’t have today. Maeda started at Coors Field earlier this season and fared surprisingly well, as he allowed three hits and no runs in 6.1 innings and struck out eight.

Lefty Chris Rusin gets the ball for the Rockies and is making his seventh start of the season. He started the season as a long reliever and appeared in relief against the Dodgers at Coors, and turned in 3.1 innings of one-run ball in a game the Dodgers would eventually win by scoring five runs off Jake McGee. In five games as a reliever, Rusin held a 1.72 ERA but he’s struggled as a starter, with a 6.00 ERA in six starts.

This sure is a lineup. Chase Utley has two hits in 19 at bats in June, so a night off against a lefty could probably do him some good. Corey Seager isn’t in the starting lineup for the first time since May 9th, so Enrique Hernandez starts at short. Joc Pederson also gets the night off, which puts Scott Van Slyke in right and Trayce Thompson in center. Austin Barnes gets his second start at second base. The Dodgers are undefeated when he plays second base (totally not a small sample size, 3-0).

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Watch this lineup score like nine runs because baseball is stupid.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA.