Rockies vs Dodgers Preview: Clayton Kershaw Slated to Pitch in Game 1 of Series

Dodgers' Starting Rotation Taking Shape

August 10, 2023 292 5 minutes readMLB Picks & Parlays

Rockies vs Dodgers Preview: Clayton Kershaw Slated to Pitch in Game 1 of Series — Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

Clayton Kershaw's Return
Where Is Kris Bryant?

The Los Angeles Dodgers started the season off a bit slow. But they’re cruising now. The Dodgers have a comfortable lead against the Giants and all other teams in the NL West division. That lead will likely get a bit more comfortable over the weekend.

The Dodgers will face a Colorado Rockies team that has already waived the white flag in 2023. The Rockies aren’t even at 50 wins on the season and traded away many of their main contributors at the start of the season; at the MLB Trade Deadline.

Can the Dodgers take advantage of Colorado’s struggles?

Here’s the Rockies vs Dodgers preview for the four-game weekend series.

Clayton Kershaw’s Return

The Dodgers have had some spotty starting pitching throughout the season. But with the addition of Lance Lynn, the emergence of Bobby Miller, and the return of Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin, the rotation is starting to shape up.

We have some MLB betting news for you. Clayton Kershaw is returning to the mound for the first time since June 27.

Kershaw already has a 10-4 record with a 2.55 ERA on the season. He was having an incredible year until his shoulder injury flared up. In his last start, against the Rockies, he threw six innings and allowed just one hit and one walk with no runs.

On the year, Kershaw has limited teams to a .139 ISO and wOBA of .277. He’s also earned 47.6% of grounders and has limited walks to 6.3% while earning nearly 28% of strikeouts.

At 35, Kershaw is still pitching like a Cy Young candidate.

Things are starting to click for the Dodgers. They’re winning rapidly, and the Dodgers are dangerous with Kershaw back in the starting rotation.

Where Is Kris Bryant?

The Rockies let Nolan Arenado walk and then added Kris Bryant a year later to play third base.

This will go down as one of the worst moves that the franchise has ever made.

Bryant has only hit .251 this season for the Rockies. He’s slugged just eight home runs and has 23 RBIs with a .717 OPS.

Why?

Because he’s played just 65 games this season.

65 games is more than the 42 he played last year. But Bryant can’t stay on the field for the Rockies after signing his $182 million contract in 2021.

Bryant has always destroyed left-handed pitching. He would’ve been an incredible player to have against a pitcher like Clayton Kershaw. But he’s been nowhere to be found.

Bryant currently has a fractured left index finger. He’s recently said that he’s unsure when he’ll be able to remove the splint. The Rockies medical staff reportedly told him not to move the finger. It sounds like he’s not even close to returning. His absence has hurt the Rockies’ MLB team stats.

Let’s look at the probable pitchers in the Rockies vs Dodgers preview.

Game 1

Ty Blach vs. Clayton Kershaw
Thursday, 10:10 p.m. ET

Ty Blach will get the start for the Rockies in the first game of the series. Blach has thrown just over 57 pitches per start over the last month. He’s limited walks to 3.9% and has held teams to a .104 ISO and wOBA of .293. He’s been good, despite not being able to go deep. However, he’s allowed over 37% of line drives and rarely earns ground balls against righties.

Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw will make his return to the diamond. We already spoke about his stats above. He’s got a high strikeout rate and low walk rate and has earned a high rate of grounders while limiting balls in the air.

Colorado’s lineup has hit better against lefties than righties in the last month. They’ve got Jurickson Profar, Nolan Jones, and Brenton Doyle hitting at a high rate against lefties. However, the rest of the lineup has been awful, striking out more than 31% of the time in the last month.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are getting above-average numbers from Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Amed Rosario, and J.D. Martinez against left-handed pitching.

The Dodgers are significant favorites, sitting at -345. Meanwhile, the Rockies are major underdogs with odds of +275. Meanwhile, the total is 8, with the Over juiced to -115.

While Kershaw should dominate, the Dodgers have the potential to score nine runs themselves.

Game 2

Austin Gomber vs. Lance Lynn
Friday, 10:10 p.m. ET

The Rockies continue to send out lefties in our Rockies vs Dodgers preview. Austin Gomber, another lefty, will get his chance to shine in Game 2. Gomber has only struck out 14.9% of batters in the last month. But he’s also kept his walks down and has held teams to a .129 ISO and wOBA of .306.

Meanwhile, Lance Lynn will give the Dodgers another start in Game 2. He’s improved drastically since coming over from the White Sox. It’s not that the MLB schedule has changed. It’s more due to the Dodgers’ analytics and development.

Lynn has limited line drives to 23.3%, earning nearly 25% of whiffs with 12.1% of swinging strikes.

Only Ryan McMahon and Nolan Jones have been consistent against right-handed pitching this season. McMahon has been the only major threat over the last month, hitting a .380 ISO and wOBA of .459.

Again, the Dodgers bats should succeed more against Gomber, the lefty.

Game 3

Peter Lambert vs. Tony Gonsolin
Saturday, 9:10 p.m. ET

Peter Lambert is the only right-handed starter for the Rockies in this four-game series. He’s earned only 13.9% of strikeouts in the last month, but like his rotation mates, he’s held teams to a .100 ISO and wOBA of .271 over the previous month. Lambert has thrown under 80 pitches per start and hasn’t been nearly as good throughout the season.

Lambert will take on Tony Gonsolin in Game 3 of the Rockies vs Dodgers Odds. Gonsolin has only thrown about 85 pitches in starts over the last month. He’s also struck out only 18.5% of batters and has allowed a .207 ISO and wOBA of .350.

If there’s anyone against whom the Rockies will succeed, it’d be Gonsolin. The Over makes the most sense in this matchup.

Game 4

Kyle Freeland vs. Julio Urias
Sunday, 4:10 p.m. ET

In Game 4, Kyle Freeland will get the start for the Rockies. Freeland will be the third lefty to face the Dodgers in this four-game series. Freeland has struck out just 17.6% of batters in the last month. He’s kept his walks down but has allowed his previous 51 batters to hit a .312 ISO and wOBA of .422.

He’s struggled the most out of the other three pitchers in this series. But he’s also had the most successful career out of those pitchers.

Freeland will face fellow left-handed pitcher Julio Urias. Urias has allowed a .195 ISO and wOBA of .322 to his last 93 batters. But he’s been way worse against lefties and won’t face any lefty that has hit well against other lefties in the previous month. Urias should be in the clear.