Preview: Dodgers (87-65) at Rockies (63-90)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: September 25, 2015 8:10 PM EDT
Mike Bolsinger knows that the way he is pitching, he won't be a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason rotation and may not be on the roster.
The right-hander will try to shake off some recent woes Friday night in the opener of a three-game road series with the Colorado Rockies.
Los Angeles (87-65) is closing in on a third straight NL West title that will likely come during this seven-game trip. The Dodgers still have plenty of incentive to play well through the end of the season with a slight lead over the New York Mets for home-field advantage in the division series.
Numerous players are auditioning to be a part of Los Angeles' playoff plans, with rookie Corey Seager stating his case by batting .353 in 19 games since being called up Sept. 3 from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers called up Bolsinger (6-4, 3.26 ERA) two days earlier, and he's 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in three starts since returning to the majors. He lasted 4 1-3 innings and gave up four runs in Sunday's 4-3 home loss to Pittsburgh.
'I don't think it's mechanics,' Bolsinger said. 'It's just my timing and feel for my pitches is just off. I just don't feel it. That feel is just not there. The curveball used to be sharper. Now it's more loopy, and I'm leaving it up in the strike zone.'
Bolsinger is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two 2015 starts versus the Rockies, holding Nolan Arenado hitless in five at-bats.
Los Angeles is 11-5 against Colorado (63-90), going 4-2 on the road.
The Dodgers sent Seager to the bench and welcomed back third baseman Justin Turner in Thursday's 6-3 victory over Arizona. Turner missed four games with a knee injury and went 0 for 2 with a walk before being removed after five innings.
"We've got a little bit of a plan, but it's not necessarily just five innings, it'll be the number of games consecutive, all that kind of the same stuff, just trying to get him back on his feet, keep the swelling out, keep him sharp," manager Don Mattingly said.
Colorado reached the 90-loss plateau for the third time in four years after losing its fifth straight, 5-4 at home to Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Arenado had two doubles and two RBIs. He's among baseball's leaders with 38 doubles and a .369 average with runners in scoring position.
The Rockies stole six bases in the four-game series with the Pirates.
"We put some runners in motion," manager Walt Weiss said. "We felt like we had an opportunity to do that so we were a little more aggressive on the bases."
Colorado will give David Hale (4-5, 6.32) his first start since Aug. 23 in place of Yohan Flande, who left his last outing with a knee injury. Colorado dropped Hale's last seven starts, with the right-hander going 0-5 with a 7.45 ERA.
The right-hander has made one start and four relief appearances in his career against the Dodgers, posting a 3.86 ERA. The Los Angeles hitter he has faced the most is Jimmy Rollins, who is 4 for 9 in this matchup.
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: September 25, 2015 8:10 PM EDT
Mike Bolsinger knows that the way he is pitching, he won't be a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason rotation and may not be on the roster.
The right-hander will try to shake off some recent woes Friday night in the opener of a three-game road series with the Colorado Rockies.
Los Angeles (87-65) is closing in on a third straight NL West title that will likely come during this seven-game trip. The Dodgers still have plenty of incentive to play well through the end of the season with a slight lead over the New York Mets for home-field advantage in the division series.
Numerous players are auditioning to be a part of Los Angeles' playoff plans, with rookie Corey Seager stating his case by batting .353 in 19 games since being called up Sept. 3 from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers called up Bolsinger (6-4, 3.26 ERA) two days earlier, and he's 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in three starts since returning to the majors. He lasted 4 1-3 innings and gave up four runs in Sunday's 4-3 home loss to Pittsburgh.
'I don't think it's mechanics,' Bolsinger said. 'It's just my timing and feel for my pitches is just off. I just don't feel it. That feel is just not there. The curveball used to be sharper. Now it's more loopy, and I'm leaving it up in the strike zone.'
Bolsinger is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two 2015 starts versus the Rockies, holding Nolan Arenado hitless in five at-bats.
Los Angeles is 11-5 against Colorado (63-90), going 4-2 on the road.
The Dodgers sent Seager to the bench and welcomed back third baseman Justin Turner in Thursday's 6-3 victory over Arizona. Turner missed four games with a knee injury and went 0 for 2 with a walk before being removed after five innings.
"We've got a little bit of a plan, but it's not necessarily just five innings, it'll be the number of games consecutive, all that kind of the same stuff, just trying to get him back on his feet, keep the swelling out, keep him sharp," manager Don Mattingly said.
Colorado reached the 90-loss plateau for the third time in four years after losing its fifth straight, 5-4 at home to Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Arenado had two doubles and two RBIs. He's among baseball's leaders with 38 doubles and a .369 average with runners in scoring position.
The Rockies stole six bases in the four-game series with the Pirates.
"We put some runners in motion," manager Walt Weiss said. "We felt like we had an opportunity to do that so we were a little more aggressive on the bases."
Colorado will give David Hale (4-5, 6.32) his first start since Aug. 23 in place of Yohan Flande, who left his last outing with a knee injury. Colorado dropped Hale's last seven starts, with the right-hander going 0-5 with a 7.45 ERA.
The right-hander has made one start and four relief appearances in his career against the Dodgers, posting a 3.86 ERA. The Los Angeles hitter he has faced the most is Jimmy Rollins, who is 4 for 9 in this matchup.