Los Angeles Dodgers (103-58 SU, 81-80 RL, 78-78-5 O/U) vs. Colorado Rockies (87-74 SU, 82-79 RL, 64-90-7 O/U)
MLB: Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 3:10 p.m. EST
The Line: OFF. Total: OFF.
The Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers will wrap up the regular season when they meet again at Coors Field in Colorado on Sunday afternoon. Los Angeles has won five of its last six contests after leveling the series by prevailing on Saturday. The Rockies clinched a spot in the playoffs despite their recent setback.
Best in baseball
While the Dodgers defeated the Rockies on Saturday to win the season series between the National League West rivals, both teams got exactly what they wanted out of the day. The Dodgers and Rockies now meet for the final time in the regular season on Sunday in Colorado in what could be a preview of a National League Division Series next weekend. Los Angeles (103-58) bounced back from a 9-1 defeat in the series opener on Friday with a 5-3 victory over Colorado, guaranteeing itself the best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Dodgers, who improved to 10-8 versus the Rockies this season, have wom five of their last six overall to guarantee themselves of their best regular-season finish since the 1953 club went 105-49 when it still called Brooklyn home. First baseman Cody Bellinger needs one home run to join Hall-of-Famers Mel Ott (1929) and Eddie Mathews (1953) as the only players in major-league history to hit 40 before their age-22 season. Outfielder Yasiel Puig, who homered and scored four times Saturday, is 5-for-11 over his last four contests after going 4-for-25 during a seven-game stretch from Sept. 16-23.
Right-hander Ross Stripling (3-5, 3.86 ERA) is taking the mound for Los Angeles on Sunday. Stripling, who has made 47 relief appearances this season, yielded one hit and struck out five across three innings against Milwaukee on Aug. 26 in his only other appearance of the year. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters Saturday that Stripling’s start is “not set in stone” and hinted McCarthy could make an appearance at some point.
Playoff bound
Colorado learned it was making its first trip to the postseason since 2009 shortly before the start of Saturday’s contest, as Milwaukee lost in St. Louis earlier in the day. The Rockies will visit division-rival Arizona in the wild-card game on Wednesday for the right to face the Dodgers in the NL Division Series. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon has registered three straight multi-hit performances and is batting .458 with two homers, nine RBIs and six runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
Tyler Anderson (6-6, 4.81 ERA) will oppose Stripling on Sunday. The left-hander continued to pitch well in his fourth appearance since returning from a two-plus month stint on the disabled list on Sept. 11, winning for the third time over that span with seven scoreless innings against Miami on Tuesday. Anderson has struggled in four starts versus the Dodgers this year, going 0-3 with a 7.00 ERA.
MLB Trends:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are:
- 4-1 Under in their last five games against teams with winning records
- 6-0-1 Under in Stripling’s last seven starts
- 6-0 Under in Stripling’s last six starts against the National League West
The Colorado Rockies are:
- 35-17-1 Under in their last 53 overall
- 20-8 Under in their last 28 home games
- 19-6-1 Under in their last 26 games against right-handed starters
Stripling is replacing McCarthy (illness) and will make his second start of the season, although Roberts expects him to pitch only about two innings. Anderson has posted a 1.19 ERA for the Rockies since Sept. 11, allowing only 13 hits and three walks while striking out 18 over 22.2 innings during this stretch. The under is 4-1 in the Dodgers’ last five against winning opponents, 6-0-1 in Stripling’s last seven starts, and 6-0 in Stripling’s last six starts against the National League West. It is also 35-17-1 in the Rockies’ last 53 overall, 20-8 in their last 28 at home, and 19-6-1 in their last 26 against right-handed starters. Look for this one to stay under the total.