True Blue LA - July 4: Dodgers 9, Rockies 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2014-07-04T22:04:12-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/56353722014-07-04T22:04:12-07:002014-07-04T22:04:12-07:00Crawford begins rehab in Albuquerque on Saturday
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<figcaption>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Crawford last played on May 27 and is expected to play five or six games with the Isotopes.</p> <p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> outfielder <span>Carl Crawford</span> will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Saturday night with Triple-A Albuquerque, getting closer to returning after missing over five weeks with a left ankle sprain.</p>
<p>The Isotopes host the Las Vegas 51s, a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> affiliate, in a split doubleheader on Saturday, with Game 1 at 11:05 a.m. PT and Game 2 at 6:05 p.m., a pair of seven-inning games. Crawford is expected to join Albuquerque to play in the second game.</p>
<p>"Five or six games, at least that," manager Don Mattingly told reporters in Denver on Friday, <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140704&content_id=83071788&notebook_id=83072336&vkey=notebook_la&c_id=la">per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com</a>. "Through Detroit for sure, then we'll see where everything is. It's been a while, over a month for Carl. But when Carl is ready, he'll be back."</p>
<p>The Dodgers have Monday off, then play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> for two days in Detroit, followed by a four-game series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> in Los Angeles heading into the All-Star break.</p>
<p>Crawford last played on May 27, when he sprained his ankle running down a double in the left field corner at Dodger Stadium. Crawford is hitting .267/.293/.400 with four home runs and nine steals in 44 games. He was hot in May, hitting .362/.389/.565 in 20 games before getting hurt.</p>
<p>In Crawford's absence, <span>Matt Kemp</span> started 35 straight games in left field, hitting .264/.322/.426 with eight doubles, three home runs, two triples and 18 RBI. Kemp got a rest day on Friday night in Denver after an 0-for-14 stretch, though he did walk and score the winning run in the ninth inning in Thursday's series opener at Coors Field.</p>
<p>The Isotopes are home through Thursday, July 10, including a four-game series beginning Monday with El Paso, a Padres affiliate.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/4/5872207/carl-crawford-rehab-assignment-triple-a-albuquerqueEric Stephen2014-07-04T20:26:28-07:002014-07-04T20:26:28-07:00Kershaw dominant, extends scoreless streak to 36
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<figcaption>Dustin Bradford</figcaption>
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<p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> continued his great run on Friday night, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> offense provided all the fireworks in an 9-0 rout of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> on Independence Day at Coors Field.</p>
<p>Kershaw already no-hit the Rockies earlier this season, on June 18 at Dodger Stadium, but his performance on Friday might have been just as impressive. Kershaw allowed only two hits in eight shutout innings for his 10th win of the season, the most wins he has ever had before the All-Star break.</p>
<p>With four runs allowed, total, in his last seven starts, Kershaw is the first Dodgers pitcher to win seven straight starts <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?t=p&id=brownke01&year=2003#428-434-sum">since Kevin Brown in 2003</a>.</p>
<p>Kershaw only threw 93 pitches but was pinch hit for in the top of the ninth, robbing him of an attempt to join <span>Tom Glavine</span> (1995, 1997) and Pat Rapp (1994, 1995) as <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/HIwKd">the only pitchers with two shutouts</a> in <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/QSu8Y">Denver</a>. Kershaw struck out eight and walked one, and lowered his ERA to 1.85, which would lead MLB if Kershaw had 1⅔ more innings under his belt.</p>
<p>With eight scoreless innings, Kershaw improved to 36 consecutive scoreless innings, the third longest streak in Los Angeles Dodgers history, behind only Orel Hershiser (59 innings) and Don Drysdale (58).</p>
<p>"If you're going to design a video game pitcher where your friends would say, 'That's not fair, you can't make someone that good,' he's the guy," said Hershiser during the SportsNet LA television broadcast. "He's the best pitcher I've ever seen."</p>
<p>Kershaw was 2-for-4 with an RBI at the plate, tallying as many hits as he allowed. But he wasn't allowed on offense.</p>
<p>The Dodgers had a season-high 19 hits, including at least one by every starter. The big blows were a two-run home run by <span>Yasiel Puig</span> in the first inning, his first home run since May 28, snapping a string of 33 games and 139 plate appearances without one; and <span>Scott Van Slyke</span>, who hit s three-run home run in a five-run fifth inning that put the game even more away.</p>
<p><span>Dee Gordon</span>, <span>Andre Ethier</span> and <span>A.J. Ellis</span> each had three hits, with Gordon adding a stolen base, his 41st, Ethier adding a triple, and Ellis hitting a double.</p>
<p>But most importantly, the Dodgers are 1½ games ahead of San Francisco in the National League West, their largest lead of the season.</p>
<h5>Handley</h5>
<p>The one real negative in the game for the Dodgers was when human target <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> was hit by a pitch in his left hand in the fifth inning. He remained in the game for the remainder of that inning on offense, but was replaced on defense at shortstop by Erisbel Arruebarrena. The Dodgers said during the game that Ramirez was removed as a precaution and that no X-rays were planned, indicating that the injury isn't believed to be too serious.</p>
<p>On the postgame show on SportsNet LA, manager Don Mattingly told reporters Ramirez was fine and that he was originally planning to give Ramirez the day off on Saturday but with the final four innings off on Friday Ramirez will likely start again on Saturday.</p>
<h5>Up next</h5>
<p>The Dodgers play a pair of weekend day games to round out the series in Denver. Dan Haren gets the call in Saturday's 1 p.m. PT game, with Jorge De La Rosa starting for Colorado.</p>
<h5>Friday particulars</h5>
<p><b>Home runs</b>: Yasiel Puig (12), Scott Van Slyke (8)</p>
<p><b>WP - Clayton Kershaw (10-2)</b>: 8 IP, 2 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts</p>
<p><b>LP - <span>Jair Jurrjens</span> (0-1)</b>: 4⅔ IP, 12 hits, 8 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/4/5872003/clayton-kershaw-bestEric Stephen2014-07-04T13:35:14-07:002014-07-04T13:35:14-07:00Kemp gets a day off
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<figcaption>Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>DENVER -- <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> is in the starting lineup for a second straight day, but Friday night's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> game see days off for <span>Matt Kemp</span> and <span>Troy Tulowitzki</span>.</p>
<p>Kemp gets the day off for the first time since May 27 after starting the last 35 games in left field.</p>
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<h4>Starting Lineups</h4>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#1e90ff" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Dodgers</b></font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000" width="125"><font color="#ffffff"><b>Rockies</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2B</td>
<td>Gordon (L)</td>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Blackmon (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Puig</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Rutledge<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SS</td>
<td>Ramirez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Arenado</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Gonzalez (L)</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>Morneau (L)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LF</td>
<td>Van Slyke<br>
</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Stubbs</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CF</td>
<td>Ethier (L)<br>
</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>McKenry<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3B</td>
<td>Uribe</td>
<td>RF</td>
<td>Barnes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>Ellis</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>LeMahieu</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>P</td>
<td>Kershaw (L)</td>
<td>P</td>
<td>Jurrjens</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<span><b>Location</b>: Coors Field<br><b>Time</b>: 5:10 p.m. PT<br> <b>TV</b>: SportsNet LA<br></span>
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<p>Tulowitzki isn't starting for the Rockies. Josh Rutledge starts at shortstop for Colorado, batting second.</p>
<p>Ramirez is 7-for-22 (.318) with three home runs, a triple, a double and two walks against new Rockies starter <span>Jair Jurrjens</span>, though the two haven't faced each other since 2010.</p>
<p>Jurrjens was just acquired by the Rockies on Wednesday from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> for minor league first baseman Harold Rigins. Jurrjens was 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Louisville, with 27 strikeouts and 13 walks in 34⅓ innings. He last pitched on Saturday.</p>
<p>Jurrjens' major league time in 2012-2013 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a> consists of 13 games, including 11 starts, nine home runs and 44 runs in 55⅔ innings, good for a 6.63 ERA.</p>
<p><span>Andre Ethier</span> is 6-for-13 (.462) with seven walks (.650 on-base percentage) against Jurrjens, and <span>Juan Uribe</span> is 5-for-9 (.556) with a home run, two doubles and two walks. <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> is 4-for-14 (.286) against Jurrjens with a home run and two doubles, and Kemp is 4-for-13 (.308) with a home run.</p>
<p>Again, take these numbers with a grain of salt as Jurrjens last faced the Dodgers once in 2012, but to add to the carnage: <span>Dee Gordon</span>, <span>A.J. Ellis</span> and <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> are all 2-for-2 against Jurrjens.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/4/5871345/matt-kemp-troy-tulowitzki-dodgers-rockies-lineupsEric Stephen2014-07-04T11:34:19-07:002014-07-04T11:34:19-07:00Kershaw and LA Dodgers scoreless streaks
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<figcaption>Justin Edmonds</figcaption>
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<p>Kershaw has worked his way up the ladder in the Dodgers record book.</p> <p><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> takes the mound for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> on Friday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> looking to win his seventh straight start. Even though he missed five weeks on the disabled list earlier in the season, he has a chance for 10 wins before the All-Star break for the first time in his career.</p>
<p>He also takes a 28-inning scoreless streak into Friday's game. Coors Field, run-scoring haven that it is, will be his biggest test during the streak, though one year and two days ago Kershaw did <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/7/2/4488888/clayton-kershaw-shutout-dodgers-rockies-coors-field">throw the 21st shutout in Coors Field history</a>.</p>
<p>Kershaw's scoreless streak is the 11th longest in Los Angeles Dodgers history, but outside of the big two of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2013/9/5/4698972/orel-hershiser-59-consecutive-scoreless-innings-streak">Orel Hershiser's 59 innings in 1988</a> and Don Drysdale's 58 innings in 1968, Kershaw could conceivably pass the other eight streaks on Friday night. Here are the streaks in play for Kershaw tonight:</p>
<h5>35 - Don Sutton (1972)</h5>
<p>Sutton was a consistent force for a decade and a half with the Dodgers but at age 27 had arguably the finest season of his career. He was 19-9 with a 2.08 ERA, a 162 ERA+ and led the National League with a 0.919 WHIP. His streak began <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197209100.shtml">on Sept. 10</a> in a no-decision against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>, when Sutton allowed two unearned runs in seven innings. The final four innings were scoreless, and followed by three straight shutouts, the highlight of which was the middle shutout, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197209220.shtml">an 11-inning game against the Giants on Sept. 22</a> which saw Sutton strikeout 11 and pitch a complete game in a game won on a bases-loaded hit by pitch of Wes Parker. Sutton's final start of the season was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197210030.shtml">Oct. 3 in Atlanta</a>, and he didn't allow a run until the third inning.</p>
<h5>35 - Fernando Valenzuela (1981)</h5>
<div class="sidebar">
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th colspan="3">Longest LA Dodgers scoreless streaks </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><u><b>Pitcher</b></u></td>
<td align="center"><u><b>Year(s)</b></u></td>
<td align="center"><u><b>Innings</b></u></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Orel Hershiser</td>
<td align="center">1988</td>
<td align="center">59</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Don Drysdale</td>
<td align="center">1968</td>
<td align="center">58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Don Sutton</td>
<td align="center">1972</td>
<td align="center">35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fernando Valenzuela</td>
<td align="center">1981</td>
<td align="center">35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Orel Hershiser</td>
<td align="center">1984</td>
<td align="center">33⅔</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sandy Koufax</td>
<td align="center">1963</td>
<td align="center">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chan Ho Park</td>
<td align="center">2000-01</td>
<td align="center">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bob Miller</td>
<td align="center">1964</td>
<td align="center">31⅔</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fernando Valenzuela</td>
<td align="center">1980-81</td>
<td align="center">31⅔</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Don Sutton</td>
<td align="center">1972</td>
<td align="center">29⅔</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Clayton Kershaw</td>
<td align="center">2014</td>
<td align="center">28</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>To illustrate how great El Toro was when he burst onto the scene, this is the second of two streaks in the top seven just from his first 16 major league games. Valenzuela allowed a run in his second big league start, on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198104140.shtml">April 14 in San Francisco</a> in the eighth inning, but he pitched a scoreless ninth to finish the complete game and begin another streak. Valenzuela struck out 10 in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198104180.shtml">a shutout in San Diego on April 18</a>, then struck out 11 in another shutout <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198104220.shtml">in Houston on April 22</a>. He returned home for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198104270.shtml">a shutout of the Giants on April 27</a>, his fourth shutout in five starts in his rookie year to lower his ERA to 0.20. On <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON198105030.shtml">May 3 in Montreal</a>, Valenzuela nearly threw another shutout but allowed a run in the eighth inning.</p>
<p>Valenzuela pitched <i>another</i> shutout in his next start, so in his first seven major league starts he had seven complete games, five shutouts, and two other games in which he allowed one run, and not until the eighth inning in both games. Amazing. In his eighth start, Valenzuela had the audacity to allow two runs, but won another complete game.</p>
<h5>33⅔ - Orel Hershiser (1984)</h5>
<p>Four years before he would set a major league record, Hershiser had another long scoreless streak, and the only one of this group that includes a blown save. This streak starts with Hershiser's third major league start, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198406290.shtml">on June 29 against the Cubs</a>. He allowed one run in a complete-game win, with the final two innings scoreless. Hershiser followed that up with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198407040.shtml">a July 4 shutout</a> against Pittsburgh. Four days later, Hershiser pitched in relief on the final day before the All-Star break. He pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings but allowed an inherited runner to score for a blown save. After the break, Hershiser pitched road shutouts on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198407140.shtml">July 14 in Chicago</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198407190.shtml">July 19 in St. Louis</a>. He took a loss <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198407240.shtml">on July 24 at home against Atlanta</a>, but began the game with three scoreless innings to extend the streak.</p>
<h5>33 - Sandy Koufax (1963)</h5>
<p>Koufax began his streak with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196307030.shtml">a shutout on July 3</a> to beat Bob Gibson and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, then followed it with another <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196307071.shtml">on July 7 against the Reds</a>. After a pair of three-hit shutouts, Koufax threw another three-hit shutout, this time on the road against <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196307120.shtml">the Mets on July 12</a>, this one with 13 strikeouts. The left-hander followed his three shutouts with a complete game <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI196307161.shtml">in Philadelphia on July 16</a>, but he allowed a run in the seventh inning.</p>
<h5>33 - Chan Ho Park (2000-01)</h5>
<p>The right-hander ended his 2000 season on fire, with three straight scoreless starts and 34 strikeouts. He pitched eight scoreless innings on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200009190.shtml">Sept. 19 against Arizona</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200009240.shtml">Sept. 24 against San Diego</a>, both 1-0 wins. He struck out 13 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200009290.shtml">in San Diego on Sept. 29</a> in a shutout in his final start of the year. Park began 2001 with seven scoreless innings in another 1-0 win, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200104020.shtml">this one against Milwaukee</a>, then started his next start with one scoreless frame.</p>
<h5>31⅔ - Bob Miller (1964)</h5>
<p>Miller is the only reliever on this list, with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=millebo04&t=p&year=1964&share=3.69#153-167-sum:pitching_gamelogs">15 scoreless appearances from May 23 to June 25</a>. He then recorded four outs in his next relief appearance before allowing a run in the next inning he started.</p>
<h5>31⅔ - Fernando Valenzuela (1980-81)</h5>
<p>Before Valenzuela became a mania in 1981, he was a relief ace in September 1980. He allowed two unearned runs in his major league debut, then pitched <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=valenfe01&t=p&year=1980">nine scoreless appearances to end the season</a>, totaling 15⅔ innings. Then Valenzuela opened 1981 with a surprise Opening Day start and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198104090.shtml">shutout of the Astros</a>, followed by the seven scoreless innings to begin that April 14 start in San Francisco. In 1988, Major League Baseball decreed that there could only be full scoreless innings, so Drysdale's streak was shortened from 58⅔ to 58 innings, Valenzuela's became 31 innings, and Hershiser's became 33.</p>
<p>Again, a reminder: Valenzuela's first 16 major league games he produced two of the top seven scoreless inning streaks in Los Angeles Dodgers history, and after his first 17 games he had a career ERA of 0.22.</p>
<h5>29⅔ - Don Sutton (1972)</h5>
<p>Sutton's first long streak of 1972 began with 2⅔ scoreless innings to end his 7⅔-inning start <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197204250.shtml">on April 25 against the Expos</a>. Then he pitched <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197204300.shtml">a shutout against the Mets</a>, 10 scoreless innings in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197205070.shtml">a no-decision in Montreal</a>, followed by eight scoreless innings to start <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI197205120.shtml">a 6-1 complete game win in Philadelphia</a>.</p>
<h5>Game info</h5>
<p>Time: 5:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p>TV: SportsNet LA</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/4/5871165/clayton-kershaw-dodgers-scoreless-streaksEric Stephen2014-07-03T09:28:54-07:002014-07-03T09:28:54-07:00Dodgers-Rockies scheduled starters
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<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> head into the nightmarish confines of Coors Field for a four-game weekend series, looking for their fourth straight series win in Denver. Here is a look at the pitching matchups against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, which include four left-handers throwing for Colorado.</p>
<h5>Thursday, 5:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h5>
<p><span>Zack Greinke</span> gets his final chance to make an impression before All-Star rosters are announced on Sunday. He allowed four runs in seven innings in a no-decision in Colorado on June 7. <span>Franklin Morales</span> began the season in the rotation but a 6.03 ERA at the end of May meant a trip to the bullpen. Morales is back in the rotation starting today with <span>Jhoulys Chacin</span> on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.</p>
<h5>Friday, 5:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p>In his last start in Coors Field, <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> struck out nine in a complete game win, but he only pitched five innings in a rain-shortened win on June 8. <span>Troy Tulowitzki</span> homered in the fourth inning, the last home run hit against Kershaw. Since that home run Kershaw has allowed only one run in 32 innings, including a 28-inning scoreless streak. Jorge De La Rosa has allowed 24 runs in 24⅔ innings in his last five starts, including five runs in a loss to Kershaw and the Dodgers on June 8.</p>
<h5>Saturday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p><span>Dan Haren</span> provided some hope with seven scoreless innings in his last start after a downward spiral for two months. <span>Yohan Flande</span> is a 28-year-old nine-year minor league veteran making his third major league start.</p>
<h5>Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA)</h5>
<p><span>Josh Beckett</span> showed he was human on Tuesday against Cleveland, allowing five runs in five innings in his first truly bad start in about three months. With <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/30/5859430/josh-beckett-general-soreness-red-patterson">his general soreness of late</a>, coupled with <span>Red Patterson</span> only pitching two innings on Wednesday in Albuquerque, don't be surprised if Beckett doesn't actually make this start. <span>Christian Friedrich</span> has in three starts this year allowed 19 runs in 13⅓ innings, with 14 strikeouts and eight walks. In 19 career major league starts, Friedrich owns a 6.61 ERA. His 69 ERA+ is <a target="_blank" href="http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/6Uvix">tied for 30th-worst since 1901 among all major leaguers with at least 19 starts</a>, just behind <span>John Ely</span> 's 68.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2014/7/3/5868047/dodgers-rockies-starting-pitchersEric Stephen