Colorado @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 2, Colorado 3
The Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to take out their frustrations on the Colorado Rockies when the National League West rivals begin their three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday. Los Angeles swept their three-game weekend set with the Chicago Cubs but received no help from Colorado, which lost three straight at home against San Francisco. As a result, the Dodgers remain one-half game behind the Giants for the division lead.
The Dodgers have been streaky since the All-Star break, losing four straight before recording five wins in a row, then alternating three-game losing and winning streaks. Colorado, meanwhile, has won only five of 21 since the break. The Rockies have dropped 11 of 13 overall and are coming off a horrendous 1-8 homestand during which they allowed seven or more runs seven times.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 5.13 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (10-7, 3.33)
Pomeranz lasted only four innings against St. Louis on Wednesday, allowing three runs and five hits while not figuring in the decision. The 23-year-old has gone 0-3 in four starts since recording his lone win of the season on July 6 at Washington. Pomeranz received a no-decision in his first career start against Los Angeles on May 2 despite yielding just one run in 6 2/3 innings.
Capuano has lost five of his last six decisions, including a setback to Arizona on Tuesday in which he surrendered five runs over six innings. The veteran has allowed four or more runs in four of his last five outings, going 1-4 during that span. Capuano fell to 5-6 lifetime against the Rockies on June 1, when he yielded seven runs - four earned - over 5 1/3 frames at Coors Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado is 3-9 at Dodger Stadium over the past two seasons and hasn't won a series in Los Angeles since September 2010.
2. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez has collected 11 RBIs in 11 games since being acquired from Miami, including the walkoff single in the ninth inning of Sunday's 7-6 victory over the Cubs.
3. The Rockies are expected to activate 3B Chris Nelson from the disabled list before the series opener. Nelson has been sidelined since July 17 with an irregular heartbeat.