Expectations were sky high for tthe Los Angeles Dodgers heading into the start of their road trip against the Colorado Rockies.
The Dodgers were coming off a sweep of the San Diego Padres, and were facing a Rockies team with just 35 wins on the season, the worst record in the National League by roughly 15 games.
But the Dodgers only ended up splitting the four games at Coors Field. The series opener was a particularly disappointing loss as it included multiple misplays from Teoscar Hernández in right field.
They now are facing the Padres in Petco Park with one game again separating the top to teams in the National League West. Despite a disappointing outcome against the Rockies, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts feels his club is in a good spot to face their division rivals, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“It is what it is. Yeah, it is. But it’s where we’re at right now and I can’t change it. But I feel good about our club going into San Diego. We’ve got to go out there and play good baseball.”
The Padres rebounded from getting swept by the Dodgers to take three of four against the San Francisco Giants. Though, that was not before losing the series opener. Overall, San Diego has won six of their last 10 games.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have gone 5-5 in their last 10, as they were swept by the Los Angeles Angels before hosting the Padres.
Overall this season, the Dodgers are 73-55 with a plus-93 run differential, while the Padres sit at 72-56 with a 58-run differential.
In the opening game, the Dodgers are lining up Blake Snell while the Padres have Yu Darvish going for them. That’s followed by Tyler Glasnow facing Nestor Cortes, and the series concludes with Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting opposite Nick Pivetta.
L.A. has already clinched the season series against the Padres, going 8-2 versus San Diego.
Dodgers getting back pair of high-leverage relievers
It appears likely that the Dodgers will be receiving some help for the bullpen at some point during the series, as Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates are poised to return following their rehab assignments with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets.
The Dodgers pitching staff played a prominent role in their sweep of the Padres last weekend, including a bullpen that has otherwise had its struggles lately. Dodgers relief pitchers combined to allow three earned runs over 10 innings and recorded two saves.
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