NL West Matchup
Sweeping the Colorado Rockies a week ago sparked the Los Angeles Dodgers’ longest winning streak in 19 months.
That run is still going as these teams open another three-game set on Friday when Los Angeles looks for Brad Penny to continue his dominance of Colorado, which will be missing Troy Tulowitzki.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Los Angeles -110 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 60% of bets for this game have been placed on Los Angeles -110 (View MLB Bet Percentages). Bet this game.
The Dodgers (15-13) extended their winning streak to six games after Matt Kemp drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning Thursday, helping them to a 5-3 win over Florida for their second series sweep in a row. The win streak is Los Angeles’ longest since taking seven in a row to end the 2006 season.
"You don’t get very many opportunities to sweep a series," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "When you’re playing well and with a lot of confidence, you try to make it last as long as you can."
Los Angeles had not swept a series this season until winning three straight over the Rockies (11-17) at home last week. The Dodgers had dropped the final seven matchups last season.
Los Angeles hopes Penny (4-2, 2.89 ERA) can extend the win streak with another impressive performance against Colorado. He is 13-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 22 starts versus the Rockies, and is 8-0 in his last 12 starts against them.
Penny continued his success against Colorado on Saturday, and the Dodgers certainly made things easier by spotting him 10 runs in the first inning. The two-time All-Star held the Rockies to three runs and four hits in seven innings of the 11-3 victory.
Penny, who is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last three starts, is looking to win a career-best fourth consecutive start. He’s failed to achieve the feat on nine previous occasions, including two last season.
The right-hander will try to do it this time at Coors Field, where he is 4-0 with a 3.18 ERA in his last six games. He hasn’t lost there since May 13, 2002.
The Rockies will need to get used to life without Tulowitzki, who is out for at least six weeks after tearing a tendon in his left quadriceps when he charged a grounder in the first inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 win at San Francisco.
Tulowitzki, the runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year last season, underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday, which found a complete tear of the tendon near his hip.
The shortstop was off to a poor start, hitting .152 with one homer and 11 RBIs after setting an NL rookie record for home runs by a shortstop (24) while batting .291 with 99 RBIs to help the Rockies to their first World Series.
Clint Barmes, who is hitting .292, went 1-for-3 in place of Tulowitzki on Wednesday as Colorado lost 3-2 to the Giants – its ninth loss in 11 games.
The Rockies have stranded 39 runners on base in their last four games – three losses – including 12 on Wednesday.
Jeff Francis (0-2, 5.01) hopes the offense can solve those issues as he looks for another strong performance after a lackluster start to 2008.
The left-hander lost his first two outings while posting a 9.53 ERA. He has followed that with three strong seven-inning performances, posting a 2.57 ERA.
Francis was solid again Sunday, giving up two runs and five hits with six strikeouts in a 3-2, 10-inning loss at Los Angeles. He’s 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in 10 starts against the Dodgers.