Series Preview: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman W. Rosario (20) reaches for the ball and tags Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder S. Van Slyke (33) out at first base in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

SERIES KEYS FOR THE ROCKIES

Play the spoiler!

Just like the Colorado Rockies did against the San Francisco Giants last week in Denver, the club (kind of) has the ability to play the spoiler in L.A. against the boys in blue. I say “kind of” because the Dodgers are sort of running away with the NL West at this point, so even the insanely low probability of a Rockies’ sweep won’t make that much of a difference this late in the season, but I guess you never know?

Try out the young guys, part 400

This has been true all year. It will be true the next two weeks. It should be true the entirety of 2016. It should probably also be true for 2017. Aaaaaand maybe for 2018, too. Sorry. But seriously, Jon Gray, Cristhian Adames, Tom Murphy, Dustin Garneau, hell, bring up Sam Howard from Asheville and Harrison Musgrave from New Britain!! (Don’t do that.)

[ Related: CarGo’s amazing, but the Colorado Rockies must stay the course ]

Hey hey, Gray day! 

Anothe week, another Jon Gray start. This could be his last one, considering the Rockies have said they wanted him to throw 30-35 big league innings this month, and he’s already at 31.2 innings in the big leagues (after starting more than 20 AAA games this year). So get every pitch you can with Mr. Gray, for they might be the final pitches he throws in 2015.

Is Chris Rusin done, or just getting started?

Chris Rusin has had a bizarre time on the mound the last couple weeks. He’s thrown two complete games — both at Coors Field — against some pretty good ball clubs. He’s also gotten shelled a couple times and looked really, really bad. So which Rusin is the real Rusin? What version of the lefty is going to show up in Los Angeles on Tuesday night?

Next: Let's Meet The Los Angeles Dodgers

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A general view of a tarp that covers the field due to the threat of rain prior to the game between Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s Meet The Dodgers

Again, just for those of you who missed it the first time, you should really let me know if you’re in Los Angeles, because I’m going to all three Dodgers-Rockies games this week.

We can get together and bond about how bad the Rockies are, and make fun of late-arriving Dodgers “fans” at Dodger Stadium!

I’ll be there alone on Monday, and then with a few buddies on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. They’re Dodgers fans, but something tells me I’m sure they wouldn’t mind hanging out with a few Colorado Rockies fans at the games (i.e., I’m buying their tickets because I’m good people).

Tweet me if you’ll be in Dodger Stadium this week!

[ Related: An ode to Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley ]

Now, let’s get serious(ish)… on to some Dodgers news:

Carl Crawford suffers hamstring injury in Dodgers win (LA Times).
The Dodgers are hitting the injury skids as of late, specifically regarding hamstring injuries (see: Enrique Hernandez, Yasiel Puig, Howie Kendrick, and now Carl Crawford). That is going to hurt them in the playoffs, as they search for depth with the pressure turned up once October rolls around.

Dodgers rough up De La Rosa again (FOX Sports).
Don’t worry! It’s Rubby De La Rosa, not our De La Rosa. Rubby is 0-3 against the Dodgers this year. Also related to this: the Dodgers are a totally different team from what they were about two weeks ago when the Giants were fast catching them for the NL West lead. That didn’t happen, and now Los Angeles appears to have weathered the storm.

Corey Seager will sit when Jimmy Rollins returns (LA Times).
This is an interesting move… call up your top prospect and then have him sit for a veteran who isn’t going to be with the club next year. Except… that makes sense for the Dodgers, who are in win-now mode and need Jimmy Rollins in the playoffs. The Dodgers aren’t the Rockies, man.

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