Game Preview: Dodgers Look to Stay Undefeated at Coors Field

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies

Time: 5:40 PM PT

Venue: Coors Field

Colorado Record: 60-55

Los Angeles Record: 64-52

How are the Dodgers Doing?

The Dodgers bullpen came close to blowing the game for the second straight day. Instead, late-inning home runs by Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, and Brian Dozier salvaged the victory. Los Angeles improved to 4-0 in Coors Field. Each win for Los Angeles came at the expense of Colorado’s bullpen.

The Dodgers will be playing this series without Kenley Jansen, who is dealing with an irregular heartbeat.

Why is this Game Important?

The Dodgers can carry the momentum from Thursday’s game through the rest of the series. They last played in Colorado between June 1-3. They not only swept that series, but went 17-9 in June and set a franchise record with 55 home runs that month.

In the NL West, the Dodgers are tied with the Diamondbacks for first place. Since 2013, only once before have the Dodgers experienced being in second place after July 31.

Pitching Matchup

Kenta Maeda (7-7, 3.73 ERA) vs Jon Gray (9-7, 4.73 ERA)

Kenta Maeda comes to Colorado, trying to change his luck in the second half. He has allowed at least four runs in each of his last three starts and has lost his last two decisions. He has fared well at Coors Field in the past, going 4-1 with an ERA of 3.00 in five games at Colorado.

The Dodgers faced the Rockies 2011 first round pick in Tyler Anderson on Thursday. They will face Colorado’s 2013 first round pick in Jon Gray on Friday. Gray has won his last three decisions and has a 1.52 ERA over his last four starts. His 144 strikeouts leads the Colorado staff.

Matchup of the Day

Yasiel Puig vs Jon Gray

No player on the roster has more hits against Gray than Yasiel Puig. He is 4-10 with two doubles against the Rockies’ righty. Puig is also one home run away from reaching the 100 mark for his career.

Vegas Odds

Odds Sharks

Los Angeles: +105

Colorado: -105

FiveThirtyEight

Los Angeles: 51% chance of winning

Colorado: 49% chance of winning

Fun Fact

In Kenta Maeda’s last season in Japan, he played with the Hiroshima Carp alongside former Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.