Rockies at Dodgers, September 29 2012: Game Time, Lineups, and Preview

Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:10 MDT

In this latest edition of the Rockies’ quest NOT to lose 100 games for the first time in franchise history, they will once again face off against a surging Dodgers team desperate to preserve their chance at a playoff spot. Tyler Chatwood takes the hill for the Rox, looking for his first scoreless outing since August 23rd – when he only lasted 3 innings. The righty is still showing potential, but said potential is mostly unrealized at this point. Chatwood started against the Dodgers about a month ago and gave up 2 runs over 5 innings, so he is certainly capable of holding them down. Locating his fastball and throwing first-pitch strikes will be the key. Chatwood faces off against former Phillie Joe Blanton, part of LA’s major midseason makeover. In 20 starts for the Dodgers this season, Blanton has an 8-9 record and a 4.59 ERA. So he’s no Kershaw.

Tyler Chatwood will try to make it happen against Los Angeles tonight.

The bench-everybody-who’s-old-or-might-become-so-within-the-next-ten-years strategy continues tonight with no one over the age of 28 starting for the Rockies. Hopefully their young arms will swing early and often on Blanton. What’s a stake? The guarantee that the number in the loss column will be 99 or less. P.S. Tyler Colvin was initially slated to play tonight but has been scratched due to elbow soreness. He is day to day.

Josh Rutledge (R) SS
Charlie Blackmon (L) CF
Jordan Pacheco (R) 1B
Wilin Rosario (R) C
Chris Nelson (R) 3B
Andrew Brown (R) LF
Matt McBride (R) RF
DJ LeMahieu (R) 2B
Tyler Chatwood (R) P

Nick Punto (S) 2B
Andre Ethier (L) RF
Matt Kemp (R) CF
Adrian Gonzalez (L) 1B
Hanley Ramirez (R) SS
Shane Victorino (S) LF
Luis Cruz (R) 3B
A.J. Ellis (R) C
Joe Blanton (R) P