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Preview: Franklin Gutierrez Among Several Right-Handed Batters In Dodgers Lineup Against Rockies

Eric Avakian
3 Min Read
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

After splitting the first two contests, the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers now meet in a swing game at Coors Field. A win would guarantee the Dodgers at least a series split with the National League West leaders before their road trip carries on to San Francisco.

Alex Wood takes the mound for a sixth start this season, and is coming off one of his better outings of the year. During the May 8 start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the southpaw went five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk, and recording a season-high 11 strikeouts.

Overall this season, Wood is 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA, 148 ERA+, 1.89 FIP and 1.01 WHIP. He’s struggled at Coors Field in his career, allowing 20 runs on 27 hits in 16 innings over four starts.

Wood made a single appearance at Coors Field last season, Wood allowed five runs on six hits, issued three walks in five innings in a no-decision of a game the Dodgers won.

Wherever the Dodgers go, an abundance of left-handers await them. Saturday is no different, with Tyler Anderson starting. His outing was pushed back two days because of knee soreness.

Anderson’s previous start came at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks, limiting them to just one run on six hits, with 10 strikeouts in six innings to earn a win. In just his second season, the 2011 first-round pick is 6-3 with a 3.42 ERA and 1.28 WHIP at home.

The Dodgers have been able to get to Anderson a bit, handing him two losses thus far in the 2017 season. In five career starts against the Dodgers, Anderson is 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, including an 0-2 mark and 6.30 ERA this season.

Overall in 2017, he’s 2-3 with a 6.69 ERA, 75 ERA+, 5.42 FIP and 1.51 WHIP. Justin Turner is a career 7-for-12 off Anderson, with a double, home run and four RBIs. Corey Seager is 5-for-15 with a triple, home run and four RBIs.

Seager and Cody Bellinger are the lone left-handed hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup. Franklin Gutierrez starts for the first time since suffering a hip pointer last weekend.

Dodgers lineup:

2B: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Franklin Gutierrez
CF: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Austin Barnes
RF: Brett Eibner
P: Alex Wood

Rockies lineup:

2B: DJ LeMahieu
LF: Ian Desmond
3B: Nolan Arenado
1B: Mark Reynolds
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
SS: Pat Valaika
CF: Gerardo Parra
C: Ryan Hanigan
P: Tyler Anderson

Eric Avakian is a journalist from Burbank, Calif., serving as a staff writer at DodgerBlue.com. Eric was a June 2016 graduate from the Business Administration department at Cal Poly Pomona. Eric also serves as a staff writer at Lakersnation.com and previously served as a staff writer for Dodgers Nation. Contact: Eric@mediumlargela.com