Rockies @ Dodgers September 9, 2017: WIN A GAME ALREADY

Photo: Stacie Wheeler

The Dodgers (92-49) are now breaking records in the wrong direction. The Rockies (76-65) will go for the series win on Saturday evening in the third game of the four game set. Should the Dodgers drop Saturday’s matchup, they’ll take on their ninth straight loss and fifth straight series loss. Their eight-game losing streak is the longest since May 2013, and they have still yet to win a series or more than one game in September.

Rockies
Dodgers
6:10 PM PT
Los Angeles
CF
Blackmon
CF
Taylor
2B
LeMahieu
SS
Seager
3B
Arenado
3B
Turner
1B
Reynolds
1B
Bellinger
LF
Parra
RF
Puig
SS
Story
C
Grandal
LF
Desmond 2B Forsythe
C
Lucroy
LF
Pederson
P
Bettis (R)
P
Wood (L)

The drastic turn in the Dodgers’ season is quite remarkable if you think about it.

I feel like I say this in every game thread, but the Dodgers really need a quality start from their starting pitcher. Dodgers starters have a combined 4.50 ERA in September. Alex Wood (14-2, 2.57 ERA, 3.13 FIP) makes his second start since coming off the disabled list with arm fatigue. In his last start, against the Padres, Wood allowed four runs on seven hits including two home runs in six innings.

Although Wood hasn’t put together as dominant of a second half to the season as his excellent first half, the left-hander has shut down the Rockies in two starts already this year. He is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings vs. Colorado in 2017. Overall in his career, Wood is 4-2 with a 5.02 ERA in eight starts against the Rox. Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado have hit two homers each off Wood.

Chad Bettis will make his sixth start since returning from his battle with testicular cancer. After two solid starts to open his season, Bettis is 0-2 with a 7.63 ERA over his last three outings.

——

The Fab Four — Chris Taylor, Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger — are back together in the starting lineup. If everything goes right, they’ll be able to right the ship and get back to winning. Joc Pederson is starting in left field for the first time at the major-league level. Joc did play 10 games in left field for the OKC Dodgers while he was with them last month.

Taylor mans center field. I’m actually okay with a Joc-Taylor-Puig outfield if Joc is able to do something offensively. This lineup is probably my favorite, but I’d like to see Austin Barnes and Chase Utley being substitutions for Grandal and Forsythe more often than not.

——

Rotation update:

Kyle Farmer was recalled today as well.

And prepare yourself for Postseason Pedro:

Play good baseball, please.

About Stacie Wheeler

Stacie Wheeler, born and raised in So Cal, has been writing about the Dodgers since 2010. She wrote daily as the co-editor of Lasorda's Lair for five long years, and she has also written for Dodgers Nation, Dodger Blue 1958 and The Hardball Times. She currently contributes to True Blue LA. Stacie graduated from the University Of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Cinema-Television. You can also watch her videos on her YouTube channel, DishingUpTheDodgers.