The Los Angeles Dodgers started off their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies on a high note Friday night, coming away with a 4-2 victory.
They look to carry that momentum into the second game of the series with rookie Walker Buehler taking the mound.
Buehler is in the midst of an outstanding rookie season for the Dodgers, holding a 6-4 record in 19 games (18 starts) to go along with a 2.92 ERA, 3.11 FIP and 1.02 WHIP. He has 115 strikeouts compared to 28 walks in 104.2 innings.
He has been even better in his last seven starts, going 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA and 0.96 ERA. Included in that was a start against the Rockies at Coors Field in which he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out a career-high nine hitters.
The Rockies counter with left-hander Kyle Freeland, who is also in the midst of a breakout season. In 28 starts, Freeland is 13-7 with a 2.96 ERA, 3.78 FIP and 1.25 WHIP while striking out 145 and walking 61 in 170.1 innings.
Surprisingly, he has been much better at Coors Field than on the road, which isn’t typically the case with pitchers. He is 7-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 12 starts at home compared to 6-5 with a 3.51 ERA in 16 starts on the road.
The 25-year-old has faced Los Angeles six times in his career, going 1-3 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.55 WHIP.
Justin Turner has worn out Freeland with 10 hits in 17 at-bats, good for a .588 batting average. David Freese, who gets a start at first base against the lefty, has also found success off Freeland, going 3-for-10 with a home run.
Nolan Arenado gets a rare day off for Colorado as he is in the midst of a slump, recording just five hits in his last 39 at-bats (.128 batting average). Arenado also continues to be bothered by discomfort in his right shoulder.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Manny Machado
RF: Matt Kemp
1B: David Freese
CF: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Chris Taylor
C: Austin Barnes
P: Walker Buehler
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: D.J. LeMahieu
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
SS: Trevor Story
LF: David Dahl
1B: Ian Desmond
3B: Ryan McMahon
C: Chris Iannetta
P: Kyle Freeland
