Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 09-18-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 18th September 2018 by Gracenote
Rockies vs. Dodgers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/18/2018
Two hot left-handed pitchers square off Tuesday, when Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers host Kyle Freeland and the Colorado Rockies for the middle contest of their three-game series. Kershaw has emerged victorious in five consecutive decisions and seven of his last eight, while Freeland has won six straight decisions and nine of his past 10.
Freeland has won his last four starts and will be looking to pitch his team back into first place in the National League West after the Dodgers moved ahead by one-half game with Monday's 8-2 romp. Joc Pederson went 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs while Max Muncy belted a three-run homer as Los Angeles won for the fifth time in six games. Colorado is 1-3 on a nine-game road swing and stands a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL's second wild card. Trevor Story departed in the middle of a fourth-inning at-bat due to an elbow injury that he suffered earlier in the game while making a diving stop and Rockies manager Bud Black said they will re-evaluate the All-Star shortstop on Tuesday.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (15-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 2.51)
Freeland is 7-1 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. The 25-year-old has allowed two runs in six of his last eight turns while giving up four or fewer hits four times during that stretch. Freeland is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season and 2-3 with a 3.52 ERA in seven career outings.
Kershaw gave up four runs - three earned - and eight hits over six innings while defeating St. Louis in his last turn after allowing two earned runs or fewer in nine straight starts. The 30-year-old has issued just six walks in 67 2/3 frames over his last 10 outings and has walked just 23 in 23 starts. Kershaw is 22-7 with a 3.21 ERA in 39 career starts against the Rockies, including a victory on Sept. 7 in which he permitted two runs and six hits over six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pederson has recorded four two-homer performances this season, with two coming against Colorado.
2. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado went 2-for-4 in the opener for his fourth multi-hit effort in seven games.
3. Muncy has belted six homers in 44 at-bats against Colorado this season.
PREDICTION: Rockies 3, Dodgers 2
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San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres Preview and Predictions 09-18-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 18th September 2018 by Gracenote
Giants vs. Padres Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/18/2018
The San Francisco Giants attempt to record their sixth consecutive victory against the San Diego Padres when they visit their National League West rivals on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. San Francisco posted a 4-2 win in Monday's opener to improve to 9-5 in the season series.
Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria homered while rookie Chris Shaw collected three hits, including his first two major-league doubles, as the Giants recorded their third triumph in four contests. Shaw has gone 5-for-7 over his last two games after notching one hit in 22 at-bats over his first 11 contests. The Padres managed only five hits on Monday as they fell to 1-3 on their six-game homestand. Austin Hedges belted a solo homer and Hunter Renfroe notched an RBI single as San Diego dropped to 3-4 versus San Francisco at home this year.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Derek Holland (7-8, 3.46 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (8-8, 3.67)
Holland is unbeaten in his last 10 starts but has recorded only two victories in that span. The 31-year-old native of Ohio, who has allowed fewer than three runs in each of his last six outings and more than one just once during that stretch, is coming off a no-decision against Atlanta on Wednesday in which he gave up one run and five hits over six innings. Holland is 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in four career starts versus San Diego, with the victory coming at home on May 2.
Lucchesi has won two of his last three starts, including a triumph at Seattle on Wednesday in which he permitted three runs and six hits over five innings. Only one of the 25-year-old Californian rookie's last four outings have been at home - a victory over the Mariners on Aug. 29, when he allowed one run in a career-high 6 2/3 frames. Lucchesi won his only career turn versus San Francisco, giving up one run and five hits over six innings on April 15.
WALK-OFFS
1. Crawford has gone 10-for-25 in six contests at Petco Park this season.
2. Hedges has homered in three of his last six games and needs four blasts to match the career high of 18 he set last season.
3. San Francisco has played in a major league-high 104 contests that have been decided by three runs or fewer, going 50-54 in that span.
PREDICTION: Giants 5, Padres 3
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