Rockies @ Dodgers September 10, 2017: Hill to avoid an 0-7 homestand

If the Dodgers (92-50) lose today, not only will it be ten consecutive losses (something they haven’t done since 1992 — the worst season in Los Angeles history), it will be a winless home stand. The Rockies (77-65) are, in effect, throwing a bullpen game. Just. Please don’t lose a bullpen game, you guys.

Rich Hill (3.67 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 4.69 DRA) pitched well against Arizona his last time out, as he delivered six innings of two-run ball, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out nine. The Dodger bullpen proceeded to allow 11 runs in three innings, although it didn’t really matter, since the Dodger offense put up a big fat goose egg.

This will be Hill’s first time facing the Rockies this season. In fact, it will be his first time facing them since April of 2008, when he was a member of the Cubs.

Tyler Chatwood (4.88 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 4.53 DRA) is on a pitch count of 60 to 70 today. While the Redlands native began the year as a starter, he has been working mostly in relief lately. Chatwood’s most recent appearance was a start in which he pitched three scoreless innings against the Giants. His six outings prior to that were all out of the bullpen, though. As a starter, Chatwood has a 5.02 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP in 114.2 IP. As a reliever, he has a 3.38 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 10.2 IP. Chatwood has faced the Dodgers twice in 2017, and neither time has gone very well. The first was a four-and-a-third inning, five-run effort at home. The second was a three-and-a-third inning, four-run effort in Los Angeles. It would, of course, be pretty ideal if the Dodgers could jump on him early again.

Perhaps/probably because of the pitch limit, Chatwood is batting eighth in the Rockies’ lineup today. On the Dodgers’ side of things, Andre Ethier, who homered last night for the first time since last September, is starting in left field and batting eighth.

Today’s game is available to watch on TBS, even in Southern California.