The Dodgers are back at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium after taking a series from the San Diego Padres, and the next visitor is another NL West opponent: the Colorado Rockies.
Los Angeles enters Monday’s opener at 59-32 with a 14-game lead in the division and a 22-game cushion over Colorado. The Rockies are 37-54 and sitting in last place in the NL West, though they’ve gone 4-1 in July. The two clubs have already seen each other twice this season, with the Dodgers holding a 5-2 edge so far.
On the mound for Los Angeles is left-hander Eric Lauer, who has quietly given the Dodgers exactly what they needed from a sixth starter. He’s 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA over 34.1 innings this season, and he was sharp in his Dodgers debut against Colorado in late May, when he threw six innings of one-run ball and struck out four.
The Rockies are countering with veteran lefty Kyle Freeland, who has spent his entire 10-year career in Colorado and has plenty of experience facing Los Angeles. This season has been a rough one for him: he carries a 7.25 ERA across 77 innings.
His last outing against the Dodgers came in that late-May meeting, when he gave up eight runs in four innings. At Dodger Stadium, Freeland has made 14 starts and is 1-8 with a 4.62 ERA.
Los Angeles is also dealing with another lineup absence. Tommy Edman, who was scratched from Sunday’s game, is out again.
He did come off the bench as a pinch-hitter on Sunday, but he did not play defense. With a left-hander on the mound, Edman would have been a natural fit at second base, but the Dodgers are going with Rojas instead.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. PT/10:10 p.m.
ET on Monday, July 6. The game will air on SportsNet LA and in the MLB app, with radio coverage on AM570 in English and KTNQ 1020 AM in Spanish.
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