Rockies @ Dodgers Preview
After being considered among the favorites in the odds to win the World Series at the beginning of the year, the LA Dodgers had a disappointing start to the season. However, over the last week they have gone 8-2 on their last ten and are on a four game winning streak, which was good enough to put them in second place, just 1.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the NL West. The Dodgers are now going to kick off a series with their division rivals and the team they dethroned from second place the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies are only 3.5 games behind the D-Backs. After winning their last game against division rivals the San Diego Padres (also taking their first series for the month of July), they are looking to continue to recover from the recent slump they have been in (LA is 3-7 on their last ten). A win in this series would not only be symbolically important for the Rockies but it would also be the perfect way for Colorado to begin their comeback before the All-Star Break.
This four-game-series opener will see two lefties make their way to the mound and also see the Rockies roster get a big boost.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and center fielder Dexter Fowler were both side-lined with injuries but will be returning for this game. Their return could not come at a better time given the previously mentioned slump that July has given the Rockies. To put into perspective how important these returns are: since Tulowitzki went down the Rockies have went 9-16.
Before the Rockies can begin their resurgence with their revitalized offense they will have the hottest team in the MLB standing in their way. Since they began their surge in late June the Dodgers are 15-3 (an MLB best). Rookie Yasiel Puig is credited with helping the Dodgers kick off their recent comeback campaign. However, shortstop Hanley Ramirez also made a return from injury that coincides with the Dodgers resurgence and has been playing very well, with a .409 batting average since his return.
The Dodgers will be starting Chris Capuano who will be pitching with a big chip on his shoulder considering he lost his starting job last Saturday but is replacing an injured Stephen Fife for this game.  Capuano is 2-6 this season with a 5.19 ERA. In his last start Capuano allowed five runs on seven hits all in under five innings.
The Rockies will be starting Drew Pomeranz. He has only pitched two major league games but has not looked promising in those outings. He is 0-2 with a 9.72 ERA. He has allowed four runs or more in both of his starts and has yet to pitch more than five innings.  He has allowed batters to hit .333 against him.
The Dodgers are the slight favorites in this one according to Bovada with a -160 moneyline compared to the Rockies moneyline which is at +145. This game is a late-nighter and will start at 10:10 p.m. ET.
