Los Angeles @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 4, Colorado 8
The Los Angeles Dodgers likely will be without Matt Kemp on Wednesday afternoon as they attempt to salvage the finale of their three-game road series against the Colorado Rockies. Kemp, who missed over a month with a hamstring injury earlier this season, suffered a right knee contusion when he crashed into the center-field wall in the first inning of Tuesday's loss. The outfielder, who left the game two batters later, also was slated to have X-rays of his jaw taken.
The setback was the Dodgers' sixth in eight contests and third in four games since their blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox that brought in Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and two others. Los Angeles remains 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the National League but trails NL West-leading San Francisco by 3 1/2 games. Colorado has won seven of nine at home and eight of 10 overall. The Rockies outscored the Dodgers 18-4 over the first two games of the series.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Joe Blanton (8-12, 5.02 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Drew Pomeranz (1-7, 4.78)
Blanton has not pitched since Aug. 21, when he surrendered four runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to San Francisco. The 31-year-old is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in four starts since being acquired from Philadelphia and has not won since topping the Dodgers in Los Angeles on July 16. Blanton is 1-0 in three career outings against Colorado.
Pomeranz is seeking his first victory since July 6 at Washington. The 23-year-old is 0-4 over his last eight starts, including a no-decision at Chicago on Friday in which he allowed two runs in five innings. Pomeranz, who is 0-4 in eight home outings, tossed four scoreless frames at Los Angeles on Aug. 6 but was pulled after throwing 84 pitches.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers have lost five of their last six meetings with the Rockies.
2. Rockies C Wilin Rosario has belted 22 home runs, three shy of Todd Helton's club record for a rookie.
3. Colorado OF Dexter Fowler has been kept out of the starting lineup for the last six games due to an ankle injury.