Dodgers Look to Keep Momentum as They Open Four-Game Set in Colorado
The Los Angeles Dodgers, coming off a sweep of the San Diego Padres, head to Colorado for a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies. right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-8, 2.84 ERA) will start for LA in the series opener, opposite Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland (3-12, 5.18 ERA), who is coming off his best outing of the season with 7.1 scoreless innings against St. Louis.
Dodgers will be without Will Smith and Michael Conforto for Monday’s game. Will Smith, who caught three straight against the Padres, will sit as a left-handed starter is on the mound for Colorado. Buddy Kennedy will start at second base for LA.
Dodgers lineup versus the Rockies features Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter, Mookie Betts at short, Teoscar Hernandez in right, Freddie Freeman at first, Andy Pages in center, Alex Call in left, Miguel Rojas at (lineup specified), Buddy Kennedy at second, and Dalton Rushing catching.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. PT, and the game will be broadcast on SNLA.
What to watch
– Yamamoto looks to build on his strong season as he faces a Rockies squad that will counter with Freeland, who has shown improvements in his recent start.
– The Dodgers will lean on their star power and depth, even with two regulars out, and Kennedy’s start at second could be a focal point of LA’s middle infield rotation.
– Coors Field presents a high-altitude, hitter-friendly environment that could help the Dodgers’ offense, led by Ohtani, Betts, and Hernandez.
Overview
LA hopes to extend its recent run and keep momentum rolling in the NL West, while Colorado tries to slow a powerful Dodgers lineup in front of a home crowd at Coors Field.
Summary
The Dodgers, riding momentum from a Padres sweep, open a four-game series in Colorado with Yamamoto on the mound and a lineup loaded with top hitters, even as Smith and Conforto sit. Buddy Kennedy steps in at second base, and the Dodgers look to capitalize on Coors Field’s conditions to continue their success. Positive outlook for LA as depth-forward competition and strong starting pitching set the tone for the opener.