Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 3 things to watch this week

2 of 4

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 01: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies catches Austin Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a double play at second base in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on July 1, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

There is no question that the matchup between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field this week carries big implications. With the two teams battling for supremacy in the National League West, every head-to-head matchup is important.

The focus of the division shifts to downtown Denver for four games, starting tonight when Colorado’s Tyler Anderson takes the hill against L.A.’s Ross Stripling. The Los Angeles pitching rotation is getting healthy again, with Stripling coming off the disabled list, while the Colorado Rockies rotation, prior to Tuesday night’s blowout loss to Pittsburgh, had posted a team ERA of 2.25 at home during a 13-2 run at Coors Field that began on July 2, including a 1.58 ERA by the starting pitchers.

Yes, starting pitching will certainly take some of the spotlight in this critical series, but there are plenty of other storylines bubbling under the surface that will make an impact. In this article, we will look at three things that could dramatically shift the series in the favor of the Rockies or tip the scales for the Dodgers.

Let’s dive in and get a feel for the series ahead…

Note: All statistics are prior to Wednesday’s play.

ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 07: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on July 7, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

There are a pair of key Dodgers who are in a slump. However, you know the thinking on the Dodgers side of things here (as echoed by our friends at Dodgers Way) … if anything can break a player out of a slump, perhaps it’s a trip to Coors Field. But, as we mentioned in our opening slide, Rockies pitchers have been pitching lights out in their home ballpark in recent games.

One of those Dodgers battling through a slump is Matt Kemp. The veteran outfielder, who is one of the all-time Rockies killers, is hitting just .146 over his last 15 games (prior to Wednesday night’s series finale in Oakland against the A’s). Since the All-Star break, he’s put together a .179 average and has just two homers and five RBI in 56 at-bats.

More from Rox Pile

In his 81-game career appearances at Coors Field, Kemp has put together a slash line of .338/.403/.640 and an OPS of 1.043. Something has to give when it comes to Kemp’s slump versus his career comfort at the plate in downtown Denver.

Max Muncy, meanwhile, has fallen back to earth after a first half where he hit .271 with 22 homers. Since the All-Star break (and hitting in the Home Run Derby), he’s hitting just .179 with a pair of homers. In August, he’s hitting just .167 in 12 at-bats and there are rumblings he could be replaced as the Dodgers starting first baseman.

Los Angeles certainly has plenty of offensive weapons. However, Kemp and Muncy misfiring (or getting hot) is definitely something to keep an eye on this weekend.

DENVER, CO – JUNE 24: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies reacts to a play against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on June 24, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Diamondbacks defeat the Rockies 10-9.(Photo by Bart Young/Getty Images) /

Speaking of slumps, Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon has been mired in one as of late. He did show signs of breaking out of it on Tuesday night, snapping an 0-for-12 streak with a sixth-inning single that was the 1,000^thhit of his Major League (and Rockies) career. Colorado’s All-Star center fielder went 2-for-4 against the Pirates, two of just three hits he had collected in the month of August to that point.

Blackmon’s return to the hit column was promising for the Rockies and came one day after Colorado manager Bud Black had given the bearded leadoff man a day off. He followed that with another two-hit outing on Wednesday, a very good sign after going 1-for-22 over his previous five games before Tuesday night’s outburst.

What is Black seeing from Blackmon during his skid?

“With Charlie, I think the bat speed is there. He’s just a touch late on the fastball and a little bit ahead on the breaking ball. It’s timing,” Black said. “He’s just a touch off but you can find it real quick.”

The Rockies are hoping that Blackmon continues to find his timing this weekend. As the leadoff hitter, Blackmon sets the tone for the Colorado offense and, as Blackmon has struggled lately, so have the Rockies to score runs. Rockies fans haven’t seen taco’s for a while, meaning seven runs haven’t been scored in that span. That’s an issue.

Also an issue is Colorado’s inability to plate runners when opportunities arise. Since July 22, the Rockies are hitting .168 with runners in scoring position. In those 119 at-bats, they have struck out 36 times.

ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 30: Jake McGee #51 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the tenth inning at Busch Stadium on July 30, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Colorado’s bullpen was the talk of Major League Baseball in the offseason. General manager Jeff Bridich spent a record amount on his bullpen, acquiring Bryan Shaw and Wade Davis while re-signing Jake McGee. Win the back end of the game became the Colorado mantra. However, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan.

As a whole, Colorado’s relievers rank among MLB’s worst, posting a 5.13 ERA (28^thin the league) and 1.43 WHIP (tied for 24^th). Colorado has a league-worst 6.37 ERA in the seventh inning and only the Kansas City Royals posted a higher ERA in the seventh inning and after than the Rockies, who come in at 4.95.

There is no question that the matchup between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field this week carries big implications. With the two teams battling for supremacy in the National League West, every head-to-head matchup is important.

More from Rox Pile

Schedule