The Colorado Rockies host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a quick two-game series before embarking on their first road trip of the season. As a result of Sunday's postponement, the Rockies will have already altered their pitching rotation. Here's a look at the pitching matchups:
Tuesday, April 5, 6:40 p.m. MT, ROOT Sports
Clayton Kershaw vs. Jhoulys Chacin
This is one of the better early season matchups between two young, highly-though of pitchers. Kershaw started the Dodgers' season opener on March 31 with a seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance against the San Francisco Giants. He limited the Giants to four hits, a walk and no runs. Kershaw had to be sweating a little in the ninth inning when closer Jonathan Broxton allowed a Pat Burrell home run, bringing the game to its final 2-1 score.
Jhoulys Chacin makes his first of the season, having missed out on it following the postponement of Sunday's game.
Wednesday, April 6, 1:10 p.m. MT, ROOT Sports
Chad Billingsley vs. Jason Hammel
Billingsley also makes his second start of the season, having been saved by his offense in the bottom of the sixth inning. Billingsley finished the top of the sixth inning on the hook for the loss since he allowed a three-run homer to Giants rookie Brandon Belt in the fourth inning. But a sac fly, a fielding error and a single each scored a run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth.
Jason Hammel, who would have started the first game of this series, will look to improve upon his previous two campaigns, both of which were quite similar (averaged 10 wins, 202 hits allowed, a ~1.4 WHIP and threw ~177 innings).
Dodgers Lineup
It's still too early to make anything out about player performance yet, but here are some notable things with LA's lineup. Center fielder Matt Kemp is mashing the ball in 15 plate appearances before. He leads the team with five hits (two doubles, one home run) and three RBI. He has also walked three times. Former Rockies Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles are both with the Dodgers. The former has played in all four games and hit one triple, while the latter has two singles in nine at-bats.
Dodgers Bullpen
Jonathan Broxton appeared in three of the four games and picked up a save in all three. However, he gave up a home run in the first and third games.
Rockies Lineup
Catcher Chris Iannetta looks like a new player in two games, collecting three hits (two doubles) in six at-bats. Jose Lopez has also surprised his doubters so far with some nice hitting (a home run in the series opener) and stellar defense. Troy Tulowitzki is still hitless after 10 plate appearances.
Rockies Bullpen
Manager Jim Tracy relied on his bullpen in the first two games of the season because of injuries cutting his starters' appearances short (and an extra-inning affair in the season opener). Huston Street appeared in both games and made his teammates and the fans sweat it out when he ran into trouble closing out the second game. Franklin Morales is the only reliever yet to appear in a game.