MLB Game Preview - LA Dodgers at Colorado

Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:40 PM EDT

Dodgers a test for struggling Rockies, Freeland

Kyle Freeland is a hometown hero and a lifelong Colorado Rockies fan, so his struggles this season sting a little more for the left-hander. Freeland was supposed to be the anchor of a Colorado staff that had lots of promise entering 2019, but he has been far off his Cy Young-worthy 2018 campaign.

But after spending time in Triple-A to work out of his struggles there, was a glimmer of hope in his last start. Freeland (2-8, 7.00 ERA) allowed just one unearned run in six strong innings at Washington on Wednesday, flashing some of the brilliance that earned him 17 wins last season.

Freeland will try to build on that start when he takes the mound against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night in Denver. He has lost two of his three starts since returning to the majors but remains confident despite his struggles.

"Things will start turning. You wouldn't be at this level if you don't know how to make adjustments and make adjustments on the fly and in between starts," Freeland said recently. "So, that's what I've been doing in the minor leagues and what I'll continue to do the rest of my career."

Freeland, who is 0-3 with an 8.79 ERA in his last seven starts, has held his own in his career against L.A., with a 2-3 record and 3.40 ERA in eight career starts.

The Dodgers haven't named a starter for Tuesday's game but right-hander Tony Gonsolin could be activated for the game. There has been plenty of buzz around possible moves for them as the Wednesday trade deadline nears.

The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that L.A. is trying to bolster its bullpen with an elite reliever, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates' Felipe Vazquez, but is reluctant to make its top prospect, infielder Gavin Lux, part of the trade.

With a 14-game lead on second-place San Francisco in the National League West, the Dodgers can afford to hold firm on that philosophy.

"I think that where we're at right now, it just puts us in a position not to reach, and not do something that not only compromises this year potentially, because nothing's guaranteed, but the years to come," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

The Dodgers' 9-1 loss to the Rockies in Monday's opener of a three-game series was their second in a row. Three relievers tossed four shutout innings after Colorado jumped on starter Kenta Maeda in the fifth inning.

It was only Colorado's third win in 11 games against the Dodgers this season and came on the heels of a tough 10-game road trip. The Rockies dropped seven of those games after the Giants swept a four-game series against them in Denver.

The 6-17 record in July has left Colorado seven games back in the race for the second NL wild card.

"We know we have a good lineup," outfielder David Dahl said Monday, when he hit a home run . "After this game we're definitely confident. We still have a lot of work to do. There's a lot of season left."

--Field Level Media