Colorado Rockies at LA Dodgers: 5 positive takeaways despite sweep

The Colorado Rockies took a trip to Los Angeles for a critical three-game set against the Dodgers. Unfortunately, the Dodgers won all three games, 6-1, 4-0, and 12-6. Despite falling three games further behind the Dodgers in the division standings, here’s five positive takeaways from the weekend series.

#1: MIKE DUNN SETTLES DOWN

Mike Dunn had struggled coming into the Dodgers series. He had given up multiple runs in the two starts prior to the Dodgers series.

Dunn was called on Friday night in the seventh inning and had a very solid outing, working around a walk and striking out two en route to a scoreless outing. He was called on again the following night in the eighth inning. This time he worked a nice 1-2-3 inning, picking up another strikeout along the way.

His stuff looked very sharp in contrast to the two outings prior to this weekend. Hopefully this will be a positive sign for the Rockies in the future and Dunn can continue to settle down and be a reliable back-end of the bullpen reliever.

Colorado Rockies

#2: CHRIS RUSIN COULD BE AN EMERGENCY PINCH-HIT OPTION

It is typical for NL teams to turn to starting pitchers as pinch-hitters late in long games when the bench is empty. The Rockies could possibly have an option in their bullpen: Chris Rusin.

Rusin was originally a starter with the Cubs from 2012-14, before being selected off waivers by the Rockies during the 2014 offseason. After starting most games for the Rockies in 2015, Rusin saw more bullpen action in the 2016 season and had exclusively seen bullpen action thus far in the 2017 season.

In 28 games so far this year, Rusin has only had six at-bats. One of those at-bats came in the fifth inning on Saturday night. Rusin worked a nice AB before hitting a single to right field.

In the limited action at the plate Rusin has seen this year, he is hitting .500 (3 for 6) and has only struck out once. So if the Rockies need a pinch-hitter late in a game with the bench empty, they may want to consider turning to the bullpen and giving the nod to Rusin.