Los Angeles Dodgers: Huge rubber match in Colorado

The Los Angeles Dodgers head into the Sunday afternoon rubber match against the Colorado Rockies with the chance to move back to half a game back in the NL West.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a chance to move back into sole possession of first place by sweeping the Colorado Rockies in Denver this weekend.

Sweeping another playoff team on the road is no easy feat but the Los Angeles Dodgers were able to win the opening game of the series to at least give themselves the chance of winning the series two games to one.

After dropping the middle game by the same score the team won in the first game, 4-2, the two sides head into the Sunday Matinee with division implications.

The Dodgers send Rich Hill to the mound, who has been very good, outside of his last start, since the start of the summer. Even in his last start, the four runs Hill allowed was an unfair representation of how he pitched. He simply made two mistakes and allowed two home runs.

The Rockies are not sending as efficient of a pitcher to the mound. Southpaw Tyler Anderson will take the rubber with a 6-7 record and 4.80 ERA on the season. However, Anderson has been good against the Dodgers, boasting a 2.84 ERA in three starts.

With a southpaw on the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers using sending a right-handed exclusive lineup (minus Rich Hill, obviously) which does expand our choices for our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak selections.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 1: Austin Barnes

My pick for today is Austin Barnes. Barnes hasn’t been nearly as strong as he was last season but did have that great game about a week ago. Barnes is always in the lineup when Hill pitches (statistically, Hill pitches better with Barnes behind the plate) and I think that he’s going to find success again today in Colorado.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 0: David Freese

For some reason, as a Dodger fan, I really like David Freese. Perhaps it is due to his postseason heroics and the clutch factor he brings to a team that desperately needs it. Maybe it is because he won’t be on another NL playoff team, which could help the Dodgers come October if the team makes it there.

Freese has been good for the Dodgers, serving mostly as a left-handed pitching specialist. Freese has four hits in 11 at-bats in his Dodger tenure. In his entire 2018 season, Freese owns a .296 batting average against left-handed pitchers.

Usually, I predict my selections based on who I think will have the biggest night, whether that means a home run or multiple RBIs. Tonight, I just want a base knock from Freese.