The Rockies have only played two games in the last four days, and that rest will be critical as they head off to a long West Coast road trip. The first stop? Los Angeles, where they do battle with the Dodgers and veteran David Price.
Price (4-0, 3.12 ERA) has spent the majority of the season coming out of the bullpen (something he considers mentally challenging), but is officially taking a starting role as the Dodgers shift their rotation around. His overall numbers this season are reasonably fine, but the 13-year vet has been far more effective in a starting role compared to relieving - his ERAs are 2.03 and 3.80 in those respective roles. The Rockies have seen him well throughout his career, as he has a 4.76 ERA in his seven appearances versus Colorado (fun fact, he’s also recorded a save!). Following their wacky and controversial loss to the Giants, the Dodgers will no doubt be looking to take their frustrations out on the Rockies on Friday.
Chi Chi González (3-6, 5.99 ERA) isn’t having a stellar season, but would you believe he’s held the potent Dodgers lineup to just two runs in 11 1⁄3 innings in LA? It’s true—he’s been very effective at shutting Los Angeles down at home, and will look to do so again Friday. For his career, Chi Chi rocks a 4.78 ERA against the blue team, but it seems he may have turned a corner in recent outings. Here’s hoping those positive results continue in the first of the three-game set.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one - the Rockies are not great away from home. Currently hitting .204 as a unit away from the friendly confines of Coors, Colorado is hoping to finally put it together on this long trip. Their 25 total road homers are 18 fewer than the next-closest team, and they’ll be hard-pressed to collect any more against Price - stingy with the long ball all across his illustrious career, he’s allowing homers at just an 0.8/9 rate this season. With that said, his 11.4 H/9 and 1.558 WHIP are easily the highest marks of his career, so stringing hits together against Price is very doable.
Scoring against Price will be paramount, as the Dodgers’ bullpen has been incredibly effective as of late. They’ve got the second-best bullpen ERA over the last 30 days, and one imagines a Rockies road squad that’s had trouble scoring runs this season will have difficulty doing so against LA’s relief corps.
First Pitch: 8:10 P.M. MDT
TV: AT&T Sports Net Rocky Mountain; MLB.tv
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Lineups:
A game under the Dodger Stadium lights. Let’s go! pic.twitter.com/Ti8fKQd3fL
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 24, 2021
Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup vs. Rockies: pic.twitter.com/DSZWtYzDoy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2021