Game: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies
Time: 8:40 p.m.
Odds: Dodgers -285, Rockies +253
Total: 11.5
After a run of 33 games in 34 days, the Colorado Rockies celebrated their second day off in a five-day span on Monday. It was the best way to get ready for a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that starts tonight in Denver.
In tonight’s first game, Colorado’s Connor Seabold (1-3, 5.88 ERA) will face off against Los Angeles’ seasoned lefty Clayton Kershaw (9-4, 2.72 ERA). In his 16 seasons, Kershaw, 35, has dealt with a variety of injuries. At this point in his career, one would think he’d be ready to hand the ball to a younger pitcher to carry the Dodgers. Instead, he has served as the Dodger’s anchor of the pitching rotation.
Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Dustin May, and Noah Syndergaard, the starters for Los Angeles, are all hampered by injuries, which has increased Kershaw’s workload while he continues to display the form that has him tipped for the Hall of Fame.
With a 3-0 record and a 1.33 ERA in four starts in June, Kershaw has been at his very best. In three of those appearances, he pitched seven innings, giving him 27 innings total for the month. Kershaw is 26-11 with a 3.40 ERA against Colorado and has started 48 games against the Rockies, second only to his 55 starts against San Francisco in 57 appearances. He has made 26 starts at Coors Field and is 11-8 with a 4.82 ERA.
Compared to Seabold, who has only made one relief appearance in his career against the Dodgers, Kershaw has made nearly two seasons’ worth of starts against the Rockies alone. He was charged with four runs on five hits in three innings of relief on April 3 at Los Angeles.
Due to injuries, the native of Newport Beach, California, has been inserted into the Colorado rotation. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in January after playing two seasons in Beantown and making six starts. The worst start of his season came in his last appearance at Atlanta on June 17, when he surrendered nine runs on nine hits in just three innings.
The Rockies have a history of injuries, but on Monday, first baseman C.J. Cron was activated from the injured list. He missed 38 games due to back spasms. Whether that helps the Rockies tonight remains to be seen. The Dodgers are 12-4 SU in the last 16 games against Colorado. LA is 4-1 SU in its last five games and 4-2 in its last six on the road in Colorado.
The Rockies are just 2-9 SU in their last 11 games. Tonight’s total is 11.5, which is typical at Coors Field. The Under has hit in five of the last six games against the Dodgers and in four of the Rockies’ last five home games.
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