Dodgers at Rockies
Hyun-Jin Ryu can strengthen his chances to be the National League's starting pitcher in next month's All-Star Game when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Colorado Rockies on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Ryu leads the majors with a stellar 1.27 ERA and has registered 90 strikeouts while issuing only six walks over 99 innings during a stellar first half.
The Dodgers are 7-0 against the Rockies this season and have won the last 12 meetings after posting a 12-8 victory in Thursday's series opener. Max Muncy homered twice while All-Star starter Cody Bellinger, Enrique Hernandez, Justin Turner and Alex Verdugo also went deep as Los Angeles racked up 17 hits. Colorado recorded 16 hits, but All-Star starter Nolan Arenado suffered through his third straight 0-for-4 performance and has gone five games without driving in a run but is 12-for-21 with three homers and eight RBIs against Ryu. Charlie Blackmon and Ryan McMahon homered for the Rockies in the opener while Raimel Tapia recorded his second career four-hit effort.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1, 1.27 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (6-5, 4.91)
Ryu has gone three straight outings without a decision - including against the Rockies in his last turn - despite giving up just two earned runs in 19 innings during that stretch. The 32-year-old South Korean has won seven straight decisions and allowed fewer than two earned runs in nine of his last 10 outings. Ryu is just 1-3 with a 7.56 ERA in four career starts at Coors Field and 4-6 with a 4.61 ERA in 11 overall turns against Colorado.
Senzatela settled for a no-decision against the Dodgers on Sunday, when he gave up two runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old has won three of his last four decisions, allowing just one run in each victory. Sanzatela is 1-0 with a 4.73 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against Los Angeles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Bellinger's homer was his 27th of the season, one shy from matching the franchise mark for most before the All-Star break shared by Brooklyn Dodgers Gil Hodges (1951) and Duke Snider (1955).
2. Colorado SS Trevor Story (thumb) took batting practice on Thursday and likely will go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning next week.
3. Los Angeles OF-INF Chris Taylor recorded a season-high four hits in the series opener and is 18-for-35 over his last 10 games.