COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
No team release available.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
LET’S GET SIX FOR NO. 34: The Dodgers won their fifth straight game last night, squeaking past the Rockies, 2-1, and tonight can match their season high winning streak for the fourth time (also April 28-May 3, May 9-15 and July 5-15). Los Angeles is now 9-1 in the month of August and 17-8 in the second half. That 17-8 mark is tied with Seattle for the best post-All-Star break record in the Majors. This evening, on a night when the club will retire Fernando Valenzuela’s No. 34 in a pregame ceremony, the Dodgers will face the Rockies in the second contest of a four-game series and 10-game homestand (1-0). Following the weekend series with the Rox, the Dodgers have an off day on Monday, followed by matchups next week against the Milwaukee Brewers (Aug. 15- 17) and Miami Marlins (Aug. 18-20). The Dodgers hold a season-high 6.5-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West following their victory last night. The Dodgers improved to 35-20 (.636) at home this season, which is the second best home mark in the National League, trailing just Atlanta (37-20, .649). Overall, the Dodgers own the third-best record in baseball (.596), trailing just the Braves (.637) and Orioles (.617). The Dodgers are 5-1 against the Rockies this season and 15-9 in their last 24 games against their NL West foes. The Dodgers have a 63-29 record (.685) against the Rockies since 2018, which are the most wins by a National League team against any other team in that time. The Dodgers would like to thank and give best wishes to Public Relations’ intern Cameron Pitts, whose last day with the organization is today. Pitts will head back to TCU in a few days to begin her Junior year as she works toward a BA in Marketing. The Dodgers have gone 39-27 (.591) since the Hermosa Beach native was signed on May 22.
RETURN OF THE MACK: The Dodgers edged the Rockies, 2-1, last night, as Max Muncy tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh inning and then drove home the go-ahead run in the eighth with a bases-loaded walk. Muncy’s 28 homers on the season are tied for fifth in the National League and is two homers of shy of reaching the 30-home mark for the fourth time in his career. On the mound, the return of Clayton Kershaw after six weeks on the IL with left shoulder soreness, saw the left-hander allow just one run while striking out four in 5.0 efficient innings. Kershaw blanked the Rockies for the first four innings, extending his Dodger season-high tying scoreless innings streak to 20.0. However, a solo homer by Elehuris Montero snapped the streak during the next frame. Ryan Yarbrough picked up his first win as a Dodger with 3.0 scoreless innings of relief and Brusdar Graterol nailed down his fifth save of the season with a perfect ninth.
FERNANDOMANIA!!: Prior to the game tonight, the Dodgers will retire Fernando Valenzuela’s No. 34 during a pregame ceremony featuring several special guests and former teammates, Fernando’s family and of course, the No. 34 unveiling on the left field club level. Following the game, the Dodgers will present a not-to-be missed drone show, honoring the legendary southpaw’s career. Earlier today at City Hall, the Los Angeles City Council declared August 11, 2023, Fernando Valenzuela Day with a special proclamation. Muchas Felicidades Fernando!
SUPERMAN: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks last night, raising his average on the season to .345. He is now slashing .472/.539/.820 with 11 doubles, six homers and 18 RBI in his last 22 games since July 17. Freeman was the first player in Dodger history with at least 20 homers and 35 doubles before the end of July and he is tied with Ronald Acuña Jr. for most runs in the Major Leagues with 101. He also leads the Majors with 43 doubles and 68 extra-base hits while ranking second in average and hits (156). Freeman’s career best in runs scored is 120, established in 2021. On Monday, Freeman was named Player of the Week for the second time this season after hitting .500 (13-for-26) with two homers, four stolen bases and seven RBI in six games from August 2-6. He posted a .923 slugging percentage and a .536 on-base percentage during that span and has reached base safely in 38 of his last 39 games overall. The All-Star is one of three players in the Major Leagues with a .300+ batting average, .400+ on-base percentage and a .500+ slugging percentage, along with Ronald Acuña Jr and Shohei Ohtani.
THE MAN: All-Star Mookie Betts went 1-for-3 with a walk last night and in his last 34 games since June 28, he is slashing .351/.460/.740 with 12 homers, 30 RBI, 36 runs scored and 27 walks. Betts ranks third in the NL in home runs with 31 while ranking fourth in slugging (.576), fourth in OPS (.960), third in runs (93) and fifth in walks (68). Since May 1, the 2018 American League MVP is hitting .298 (97-for-325) with 27 homers, 66 RBI and a 1.016 OPS. During that span, he is third in the Majors in homers, third in runs (76) and OPS and fourth in RBI and extra-base hits (50).
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. ROCKIES: RHP LANCE LYNN (8-9, 6.11 ERA in 23 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- In his second start for the Blue Crew on August 6 against the Padres, he fired 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, one run, a homer and two walks, while punching out six in the win…was traded from the White Sox alongside teammate Joe Kelly on July 28
- Over 23 starts, the Indiana native owns a 8-9 record with a 6.11 ERA (90 ER/132.2 IP) with 157 strikeouts against 48 walks and has generated a 1.41 WHIP
- Tossed a career-high 16 strikeouts on June 18 against Seattle
- Notched his first win of the season on May 5 against Cincinnati, spinning 6.2 innings and giving up eight hits, four runs, a homer and eight strikeouts
- Has fired 6.0+ strikeouts in 14 out of his 21 starts this season
- Pitched in four spring training games with the White Sox, going 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA (7 ER/14.2 IP)
VS. ROCKIES:
- Will face Colorado for the 10th time in his career…is 4- 2 with a 2.20 ERA (14 ER/57.1 IP) and 51 strikeouts against 17 walks
- Last faced the club on August 14, 2020, firing a complete game (9.0 innings), giving up two hits, two runs and one earned run while striking out six in the win
