Dodgers @ Rockies April 23, 2016: Kenta Maeda’s first taste of Coors

The Dodgers are back at it trying to make up for last night’s loss in Colorado. This time, Kenta Maeda gets his first look at Coors Field.

	Dodgers			Rockies
	5:10 p.m. PT			Denver, Colo.
2B	Utley		SS	Story
SS	Seager		RF	Gonzalez
RF	Puig		3B	Arenado
1B	Gonzalez		CF	Parra
3B	Kendrick		LF	Raburn
LF	Hernandez		1B	Paulsen
CF	Pederson		C	Wolters
C	Ellis		P	Chatwood (R)
P	Maeda (R)		2B	LaMahieu

Maeda has been really good in his first three outings, but tonight will be his biggest test to date. His fastball and changeup should be fine in the thin air of Colorado, but his slider and curveball could be impacted. He’s throwing his slider 30.1 and his curveball 16.1 percent of the time, which is almost half of his arsenal that could be limited. He is getting 27.8 percent swinging strikes with his slider, and while his changeup has a 17.9 percent whiff rate, that works out to just five of 28 (#SSS). The fastball and curveball are 4.3 and 3.8 percent whiff pitches, respectively. We’ll see how Maeda deals with that.

Justin Turner is getting the night off after a less-than-ideal start to the 2016 season (.246/.323/.351, 88 wRC+). Word is he has a bruised toe, but he could use a day off regardless. In his place, Howie Kendrick is getting his second start at third base of the season. Yasiel Puig moves up into the third spot, and Yasmani Grandal is getting the night off playing five of the last six games. While I understand he needs a night off, it’s tough going from his bat to A.J. Ellis‘.

Injury/Roster News

Yimi Garcia came out of last night’s game with a sore right biceps. He didn’t have an MRI because the medical staff said he didn’t need one (OK?), but he is going on the disabled list.

Scott Kazmir has a left thumb issue and went just five innings last night. Because of that, the Dodgers have recalled Zach Lee to be a long reliever for tonight’s game. He probably won’t be up here for too long.

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