Dodgers Go For Six Wins in a Row Behind Zack Greinke

Clayton Kershaw hasn’t been looking like the Cy Young Award winner usually does over his first three starts of the season. Kersh did strike out a dozen Colorado batters in Friday’s 7-3 win, and he picked up his first victory of the season. I’m sure Kersh will find his groove and put the Spring Training setback with the tooth injury behind him soon.

"“Give credit to the Rockies’ batters, but my job is to go seven, eight, nine innings every time out. I still need to get better with my offspeed pitches, but a step in the right direction, ” said Kershaw after the game on Friday."

The Dodgers offense and defense (hello Andre Ethier’s arm) really has counteracted the inconsistent starting pitching so far this season.

Adrian Gonzalez has been scorching hot. He has a 12-game hitting streak going back to last season, and he had two RBI doubles and a single in Friday’s win.

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Zack Greinke (1-0, 0.69) vs. Jordan Lyles (1-0, 2.25)

The bullpen has also been very effective, and Don Mattingly has had to call on his relievers a lot since the starting pitchers have only made it past the sixth inning a couple of times so far this season. Yimi Garcia and Paco Rodriguez have both been impressive, and Adam Liberatore pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his major league debut as well on Friday.

There are now three lefties in the Dodgers bullpen, and I am loving it.

Zack Greinke was sensational in his last start against the D-backs in Arizona. He pitched 7 shutout innings, and he allowed 5 hits with 7 strikeouts and no walks in the 7-4 victory. Greinke has only allowed 1 earned run so far this season over 2 starts. In his career, Greinke is 6-2 against the Rockies with a 3.53 ERA in 14 games (13 starts).

Lineup:

Greinke will have to pitch carefully to Carlos Gonzalez who sat out game 1 against Kershaw. CarGo is hitting .353 with 2 homeruns against Greinke in 17 at bats.

The Rockies will be sending right-hander Jordan Lyles to the mound on Saturday. Lyles wasn’t involved in the decision in his last start against the Cubs, but he only allowed 1 earned run on 5 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks over 6 innings. The Rockies lost the game after they committed four errors.

Against the Dodgers, Lyles is 0-2 with a 7.13 ERA in 3 career starts all at Dodger Stadium. Yasiel Puig, who has been sitting with a tight hamstring, is the only current Dodger who has hit a homerun off Lyles in the past which was in April of last year. Jimmy Rollins is 5-for-10 against Lyles.

With a win on Saturday, the Dodgers would not only win their sixth game in a row, but they would move into first place by themselves in the N.L. West. After Friday’s game, the Dodgers and Rockies are now tied at the top with a 7-3 record.

At the bottom of the division are the World Champion Giants who have lost an eye-popping eight games in a row. They lost 9-0 against the D-backs on Friday, and they are really scuffling.

Go Blue!

"“Give credit to the Rockies’ batters, but my job is to go seven, eight, nine innings every time out. I still need to get better with my offspeed pitches, but a step in the right direction, ” said Kershaw after the game on Friday."

"“Give credit to the Rockies’ batters, but my job is to go seven, eight, nine innings every time out. I still need to get better with my offspeed pitches, but a step in the right direction, ” said Kershaw after the game on Friday."