Dodgers hit the road to face the Colorado Rockies

The Dodgers (5-2) are traveling to Colorado to face the Rockies (3-4) in a three-game set. It will be their first test to see how they perform on the road after dropping just two in their seven-game home stand.

Game one: Kenta Maeda vs. Tyler Anderson

Friday, Apr. 5, 2019 - 1:10 pm PDT

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Kenta Maeda is getting the series opener on the bump for the Dodgers. He is coming off of a decent start against the Arizona Diamondbacks where he pitched 6 ²⁄₃ innings and allowed three home runs, five hits and two walks for a total of three runs scored on him.

One would typically be worried about a pitcher giving up more home runs in the mile-high city of Denver, but Maeda is a different story. Maeda typically pitches better at Coors Field than he does at any other ballpark. In 31 innings pitched, he has struck out 35 batters while boasting an ERA of 3.19 and a 1.065 WHIP.

Opposite of Maeda is Rockies left-handed pitcher, Tyler Anderson. Anderson earned a loss in his first outing of the 2019 season against the Miami Marlins. In 24 batters faced, Anderson allowed five runs on nine hits while striking out just three. Anderson, similar to Maeda, seems to pitch well in Colorado. At Coors Field, he flaunts a 3.73 ERA.

Game two: Walker Buehler vs. Jon Gray

Saturday, Apr. 6, 2019 - 5:10 pm PDT

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Walker Buehler did not have a strong season debut, earning five runs and striking out none in just three innings pitched against the D-backs. It doesn’t mean much of anything after just one start, but his ERA currently sits at 15.00. However, it should be noted that Buehler hardly pitched at all in Spring Training, which may account for his shaky regular season start.

The Rockies are sending out Jon Gray to face Buehler. Although Gray’s first start earned him a loss, his performance looked solid. After allowing the leadoff hitter to get on base by a HBP, Gray retired the next nine batters. He would go on to allow three runs on five hits and a walk. In his 6 ²⁄₃ innings, Gray struck out 10 batters.

Game three: Julio Urías vs. Chad Bettis

Sunday, Apr. 7, 2019 - 5:37 pm PDT

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Julio Urías gets the start to finish the series against the Rockies. In what may very well be his last appearance in the starting rotation this season, Urías will likely see another pitch limit (perhaps around five innings). However, the 22-year-old made a great case for his cause in his 2019 season debut against San Francisco. He threw five scoreless innings while striking out seven batters and allowing just three hits. It’s likely he will be the first one moved to the bullpen when Clayton Kershaw or Rich Hill make their return to the big leagues.

On the other side, Rockies right-handed pitcher Chad Bettis had a rough start. Against the Tampa Bay Rays, Bettis earned six runs on two home runs, seven hits and two walks. He had a decent start, allowing just two base runners from an error and a walk through three full innings. His struggled at the tail-end of his outing, allowing three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings.