The Dodgers head to Coors Field in search of an identity. They begin a four-game series Thursday night against the Rockies, with an offense that has been up and down of late. In the club's last 13 games, they have scored six or more runs six times (all wins), but have also scored zero or one run six times as well (all losses). Whatever offense shows up for the Dodgers tonight, they will have their ace on the mound, in Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw is 6-3 with a 3.05 ERA this season, and is coming off a start that, like the offense of late, could also be described as Jekyll and Hyde. Through five innings in Cincinnati, Kershaw struck out nine Reds and allowed only one hit. Then, in seemingly the blink of an eye he allowed six runs, though the Dodgers came back to win that game in extra innings. In eight career starts at Coors Field, Kershaw is 3-3 with a 5.44 ERA.
Rookie Juan Nicasio is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts this year for the Rockies, and he will get the start tonight for Colorado. These two teams met last week in Los Angeles, with the Dodgers winning two of three games. Dodgers relief pitchers Hong-Chih Kuo and Kenley Jansen will both begin rehabilitation assignments today, Kuo with Single A Rancho Cucamona and Jansen with Double A Chattanooga.
Tonight's 5:40 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.