Dodgers host Rockies for last three home games

The Dodgers have hosted 78 games at Chavez Ravine through this point, and they only have three left. They’ll come this weekend with a 3-game series against the Rockies.

The boys in blue truly have a home field advantage, boasting a 57-21 record at the Ravine. They also have a pretty good head-to-head record against the Rockies this year, winning 13 games and only falling short in three. Currently, the Rockies are last place in the National League West division, at a whole 32 games back.

Pitching looks strong for the Dodgers in this series, with their top three guys likely to take the mound all weekend. The starters have not been announced yet for LA, so these probable pitching matchups may be not be accurate, but I gave it a very educated guess.

Game one: Clayton Kershaw (14-5, 3.05 ERA) vs. Peter Lambert (3-6, 6.98 ERA)

Friday, Sept. 20 - 7:10 p.m. PT // TV: SportsNet LA

Clayton Kershaw will kick off the weekend on the bump and look to continue his dominance over the Rockies. In his career facing the Rox, he has a 22-8 record and 3.21 ERA, which is pretty good if you ask me. Kershaw hasn’t had many opportunities to face this opponent this year, only getting one start against Colorado so far this season. It came back in June and it wasn’t high brightest moment ever. The lefty pitched seven innings, but gave up seven hits to score five runs (four earned).

In Kershaw’s most recent outing against the Mets in New York, he went 6 ¹⁄₃ innings and allowed two runs to score from seven hits, including two homers. Speaking of homers, a couple batters he should be extra careful facing are Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado, who each have three career homers against No. 22.

Peter Lambert is tasked with facing Kershaw and the Dodgers on Friday night. The 22-year-old rookie from San Dimas doesn’t have the greatest memory of pitching in Southern California. The last time he was at Dodger Stadium, he tossed 1 ²⁄₃ innings and allowed eight hits and two walks to score six runs. Joc Pederson didn’t necessarily give him a “warm” welcome either, since he hit a JocPop homer to start the beginning of his long night.

He looked a little bit better in his last outing against the Rockies, going five innings and allowing five runs from five hits and three walks.

Game two: Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-5, 2.35 ERA) vs. Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-6, 6.23 ERA)

Saturday, Sept. 21 - 6:10 p.m. PT // TV: SportsNet LA, KTLA

Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the nod for game two of this series, attempting to keep the good vibes going from his last performance. The last time he faced the Rockies came during his rough patch — he only went 4 ¹⁄₃ innings, allowing six hits, four walks and three runs to score. He flipped things around with his most recent appearance against the Mets. He looked like his normal Cy Young-level star, pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while striking out six batters.

Chi Chi Gonzalez will start opposite of the Korean Monster on Saturday. He is coming off of a short and sweet outing against the Padres. He allowed one run to score from four hits and five walks over four innings of work. His last outing against the Dodgers was also decent — he went 6 ¹⁄₃ innings and allowed three hits, three walks and two runs.

Game three: Walker Buehler (13-3, 3.15 ERA) vs. Antonio Senzatela (10-10, 6.83 ERA)

Sunday, Sept. 22 - 1:10 p.m. PT // TV: SportsNet LA

Walker Buehler will likely be the starting pitcher to close out the regular season at Chavez Ravine. He does particularly well at home, with a 10-3 record and 2.48 ERA this season. Buehler also has a pretty good track record against Colorado, with a career 4-1 record and 4.12 ERA in 14 games. There are always discrepancies within stats, though. The last time he faced the Rockies was not exactly smooth sailing. He pitched five innings and surrendered eight hits and six runs, including homers by Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado.

Buehler is coming off an O.K. start against the Mets where he worked for five innings, giving up two hits, two walks and two runs.

Antonio Senzatela will pitch against the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. Senzatela is coming off a decent game against the Mets. He didn’t have the best day ever, but it was enough to get him the win. He pitched six innings and allowed eight hits — including two homers — and four runs. The last time he was in Los Angeles (earlier this season), he only went through three innings before allowing five hits and five runs.