LAD@NYM: Capuano strikes out nine to earn win No. 10
After watching the Rockies drop three straight to San Francisco, the Dodgers will get a chance to show Colorado that they were watching, and they didn’t appreciate it.The Rockies head to Los Angeles for three games against the Dodgers, who are a half-game behind the Giants in the National League West. In Monday’s series opener, the home team’s Chris Capuano gets the ball, facing off against Colorado’s Drew Pomeranz.Capuano is 10-7 with a 3.33 ERA, leading Los Angeles in wins. The southpaw has struggled in his last two starts, though, giving up a combined 11 runs in 10 1/3 innings. He was hit with the loss July 26 in St. Louis and July 31 against the D-backs. Capuano is 1-5 in his last six decisions.”I seemed to struggle executing with guys on base,” Capuano said after his most recent outing. “And for me, I need to spend a little more time in the bullpen making those good pitches with guys on base, because right now I’m not making the same quality pitches out of the stretch that I am out of the windup.”Capuano has had mixed results against Colorado this season, posting a 1-1 record and 3.65 ERA in two starts. His opponent, Pomeranz, was effective against Los Angeles on May 2, when he allowed one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings, earning a no-decision.Pomeranz, another lefty, is 1-7 with a 5.13 ERA on the season. In his last four starts, he’s 0-3 with a 9.35 ERA.”I obviously didn’t have my best stuff today, but that’s part of pitching,” Pomeranz said following his last start.”[Pomeranz] was a little bit erratic with his command tonight,” manager Jim Tracy added. “Have I seen better from him? Yeah.”Rockies: Nelson will be active for Los Angeles series
Third baseman Chris Nelson will be activated Monday before the Rockies begin their series with the Dodgers. Nelson had been on the disabled list since July 17 after experiencing an irregular heartbeat. In 58 games this season, Nelson has hit .256 with 23 RBIs and five home runs.• Colorado placed left-handed starter Jonathan Sanchez on the disabled list Sunday because of left bicep tendinitis. Sanchez is 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA in three starts since coming to the Rockies in a trade from Kansas City.”He has some soreness,” Tracy said before Sunday’s series finale with the Giants. “He will not travel with us. They are going to treat him, and once he gets to the point where he’s able to get back up and begin a throwing program after treatment, we’ll get him ramped back up and get some bullpen sessions with him.”Dodgers: De La Rosa sustains minor groin injury
Right-handed pitcher Rubby De La Rosa is day to day after injuring his groin while making his second rehab start Saturday night with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. The 23-year-old righty has been out all season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.De La Rosa said that while his groin hurt on a couple of pitches, an MRI will not be needed. He struck out four batters in two hitless and scoreless innings. The righty could aid the Dodgers’ bullpen in September if he continues to progress.• Matt Kemp’s seventh-inning single in the Dodgers’ walk-off win Sunday extended the center fielder’s hitting streak to eight games. His average during that stretch is .469 (15-for-32), and he has four doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs. Kemp scored three runs Sunday, with one of them being the game winner.Worth noting
The Dodgers went 5-4 against Colorado in the first half of the season. They swept a three-game series at home, but dropped two games out of three in two series played at Coors Field. The Rockies are 3-9 at Chavez Ravine in the past two seasons. They haven’t won a series in Los Angeles since September 2010.
