In what has been a rough weekend so far, the Los Angeles Dodgers have dropped two of the first three games against the Colorado Rockies. L.A. now needs a win at Coors Field on Sunday to avoid a second consecutive series loss for only the second time this season.
The Dodgers starting pitching staff, which has been the best in baseball this season, has had a particularly tough series. The trio of Walker Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw, all of which are potential All-Stars this year, combined to give up 19 runs in the first three games.
Kenta Maeda will try to break that trend on Sunday as he takes the mound for his 16th start of the season. Maeda owns a 7-4 record to go along with a 3.76 ERA, 4.14 FIP and 1.10 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 28 walks in 83.2 innings.
Maeda faced the Rockies in his last start this past weekend at Dodger Stadium and completed seven innings for the first time all season. He allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out six and walking two, earning a no-decision.
He is one of the few pitchers that has actually had success at Coors Field in his career with the Dodgers. In nine outings (six starts), he is 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. In 66.2 innings total against the Rockies, he has pitched to a 2.30 ERA.
Opposing Maeda is right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez, who makes just his second start of the season. Gonzalez faced the Giants last week and gave up six hits and three runs in five innings, striking out and walking four.
Gonzalez has spent the majority of his season with Triple-A Albuquerque. In 14 starts, the 27-year-old went 4-5 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 69 strikeouts and 33 walks in 76.1 innings.
Alex Verdugo is having an outstanding series offensively, going 7-for-14 with two home runs, five RBI and five runs scored. However, he is not in Sunday’s lineup.
Cody Bellinger is making a rare start at first base, which has Matt Beaty playing right field. Edwin Rios makes a second straight start, spelling Justin Turner at third.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
RF: Matt Beaty
SS: Christ Taylor
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Edwin Rios
CF: Kiké Hernandez
C: Russell Martin
P: Kenta Maeda
Rockies lineup:
RF: Charlie Blackmon
CF: David Dahl
3B: Nolan Arenado
1B: Daniel Murphy
LF: Raimel Tapia
2B: Ryan McMahon
SS: Garrett Thompson
C: Tony Walters
P: Chi Chi Gonzalez
