Kershaw And Lowly Dodgers Kick Off Weekend Series At Colorado

Dodgers Lineup vs. Colorado

Clayton Kershaw-5-3 vs. Jon Garland-3-6

*Peter Moylan called up, Javy Guerra optioned. Elbert transfered to 60-day DL? yes, Elbert to 60-day. Why? I have no idea. Still no center fielder. Let’s face facts, Schumaker is not a center fielder and hardly a major league player. Ramon Hernandez batting cleanup is just ridiculous. Is Mattingly batting that bum cleanup because he homered yesterday? Or because of the lousy partial season he had in Colorado in 2012? Somebody explain to me why Mattingly is still employed?*

The Dodgers special brand of terrible uninspired Baseball takes to the road again, traveling to Coors Field in Denver, Colorado  for a weekend series. The Dodgers split the four game home and home freeway series, after dropping the last two games in Anaheim.

With Matt Kemp now on the DL, the Dodgers are going to have to make a move to call up a “true center fielder” as they put it. With the big expansive outfield in Colorado, the Dodgers are going to need someone with good range to cover all of the ground. Of course that guy is not currently on the roster, so that means that player would likely come from Albuquerque. I expect for the Dodgers to announce a move before today’s game, but we shall see.

However, again I will mention that Hanley Ramirez, and reliever Scott Elbert are both on their way back from their respective injuries. Remember Carl Crawford’s great sliding catch last night in left field? And the skid marks he left in the dirt? Well, of course after the game, J.P. Hoornstra tweeted this out….

Can Kershaw get the Dodgers Back on track?-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

And A.J. is still battling a sore oblique muscle, so he is out. Crawford said something about trying to grind it out, since the team is short handed. Of course. This team is just pathetic. They are a pathetic listless group of guys who just can’t stay healthy. How long is Dodger ownership brass going to let this continue for? Complacency has truly set in for the Dodgers.

The listless and heartless performances continue to infuriate and depress their fan base. The Dodgers are now 0-19 when trailing after six innings. Basically the team rolls over when they are down late in a game. With last night’s loss to the Angels, the Dodgers have clinched their worst May record in franchise history with a 9-17 record. For that people need to start getting pink slips. It’s time for a change.

In the meantime, the Dodgers will turn to their ace, Clayton Kershaw to get them back on the winning track. Of course we know they will still lose anyways.

Kershaw is 5-3 this season, but is one of the MLB leaders in ERA. Kershaw has a 1.68 ERA, and has whiffed 77 and walked only 22 during another Cy Young campaign. Kershaw has allowed only 5.5 hits per nine in 2013, and has a 0.871 WHIP. Kershaw is 7-4 with a 3.84 career ERA against Colorado. During those 18 games, and over 100 innings, Kershaw has whiffed 111 and walked just 51. However Kershaw has struggled pitching at Coors Field over the years. Kershaw is 3-3 with a 5.91 ERA at Coors Field, in ten games at Colorado.

We all know that most pitchers struggle at Coors Field, so this is nothing new. Colorado still has their troubles with Kershaw overall. The Rockies are batting .246 (44 for 179) with five home runs off of Kershaw. There is one guy that Kershaw has had problems with, and that’s Dexter Fowler. The daddy longlegs as Vin Scully calls him, is hitting .400 (12 for 30) with two doubles and a triple off of Kershaw. Eric Young Jr. is batting .308 (4 for 13). Cargo is hitting just .227 (5 for 22), and Troy Tulowitzki, (mullet man) is 8 for 38 (.211). Cargo has hit two home runs against Kershaw, and Todd Helton, Tulowitzki, and Wilin Rosario have each hit one. Kershaw has held Colorado to a .704 OPS.

Colorado Rockies pitcher Jon Garland (27) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado will counter with right hander Jon Garland. Yes our old friend is back. It seems like the Dodgers have been facing a lot of former teammates of late doesn’t it? Garland pitched two non-consecutive seasons in Dodger Blue in 2009, and again in 2011. Garland has not pitched well so far with Colorado, but again he is pitching half his games at Coors Field. Garland is 3-6 this season and has posted a 5.53 ERA with 28 whiffs and 19 walks. Garland has allowed 74 hits in 57 innings pitched, and that is very bad.

Garland is 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers. Garland is 4-3 with a 4.86 ERA in eight starts at Coors Field. The current group of Dodgers are hitting just .235 (38 for 162) against Garland with three home runs, 20 runs driven in, and an OPS of .660. Of course the former Rockie, Ramon Hernandez has hit .300 (9 for 30) with a home run against Garland. Adrian Gonzalez is 3 for 10, and Andre Ethier is 4 for 9. That is it. Juan Uribe, and Mark Ellis have also hit home runs against Garland.

I am expecting some kind of roster decision today. The Dodgers need a center fielder, and they need to get a status update on A.J. Ellis. They will still lose anyways, but some clarity on the boatload of injuries would be nice. We will keep you updated throughout the day on any Dodger roster moves, and injury updates.

Until then, tune into the game tonight at 5:40 PM. These series at Coors Field are always especially annoying. The Rockies are a much improved team this year. After losing 98 games last year, the Rockies did what the Dodgers need to do this season, they made a change at manager. Rookie manager Walt Weiss has taken over the Rockies, and given them a new attitude and a breath of fresh air. Colorado is in third place in the NL West, with a 28-26 record, and 2.5 games behind first place Arizona. This is the change the Dodgers badly need right now. If the Rockies can do it, then why can’t the Dodgers?

The Dodgers battle the new look Rockies tonight on Prime Ticket. Don’t forget to check in over here after the game as we recap and analyze the recently completed Dodger game. Go Blue.