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Ted Lilly takes the mound Sunday for the Dodgers looking to continue his great run. The left-hander has five quality starts this season in his five starts, and has streaks dating back to last season of eight straight quality starts and 17 straight starts of giving up three runs or less.
Lilly's worst start this season came against the Rockies at Coors Field, but that is a relative term as Lilly allowed just two runs in six innings in a win on May 1. Since joining the Dodgers in 2010, Lilly is 6-1 with a 3.02 ERA in eight starts against Colorado, with 12 walks and 52 strikeouts in 51 innings.
In his three starts against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, Lilly has allowed three runs in 23 innings for a 1.17 ERA, with three walks and 24 strikeouts.
Alex White makes his second start of the year for the Rockies. He allowed two runs and pitched into the seventh inning on Tuesday in San Diego but suffered the loss as Colorado has struggled to score runs during their road trip. In five games in San Diego and Los Angeles, the Rockies have scored 13 total runs, and six of those came on Wednesday at Petco Park.
The Dodgers meanwhile go for their fourth home sweep in their sixth series at Dodger Stadium, where they are 14-3 this season.
Coffey Struggling
To say Todd Coffey has been struggling this season would be an understatement. The burly reliever has allowed six runs in his six appearances so far for an ERA of 16.20, and since returning from the disabled list on April 30 has allowed seven of the 13 hitters he has faced to reach base, including allowing two doubles and a triple.
"He hasn't gotten consistent use, and that's always tough. But the games we've played haven't called for it a whole lot. The fact that he hasn't gotten out there regularly, and he has to stay sharp with bullpens and dry work."
Coffey has only pitched three times in 13 days since getting activated from the DL, but has also really only been used in low leverage situations. The Dodgers have played numerous close games, and that Mattingly said the game haven't called for Coffey to be used is telling of his role. But that role could change, simply by pitching better, too.
"You define your own role at the end of the day," Mattingly said. "Josh Lindblom is a prime example of that."
Game Time: 1:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket