The Los Angeles Dodgers, boasting a strong 30-14 home record this season, claimed a 9-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Tuesday night, opening their three-game series with a win. On Wednesday, the Dodgers will look to secure their 18th series win of the year as Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-6, 2.76 ERA) faces off against Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander (2-7, 6.19 ERA) in a key pitching matchup.
Consistent Dodgers Dominance Over Rockies Continues
Los Angeles has built an impressive eight-game winning streak against Colorado, including four wins earlier this season. The Dodgers have not depended on any single player to carry them in these contests, and Tuesday’s opener demonstrated their depth. Michael Conforto contributed significantly, launching a pivotal three-run home run in the fourth inning and adding a double to bolster the Dodgers’ offense.
This home run was Conforto’s fifth of the season and came after a slow start, as he entered the series with a batting average of .165. Despite his struggles, the Dodgers’ general manager Andrew Friedman expressed confidence in Conforto’s progress last week.
To date, obviously, Michael hasn’t performed up to what he expected or we expected,
Friedman told the Los Angeles Times.
But watching the way he is working, watching the progress being made, I would bet that his next two months are way better than his last two months.
—Andrew Friedman, Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager
Yamamoto’s Past Starts Against Rockies Preview Wednesday’s Contest
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be pitching against the Rockies for the fourth time in his major league career. In his three previous starts versus Colorado, Yamamoto is undefeated at 2-0 but carries a 4.50 ERA. One of these occurred at Coors Field on September 28, 2024, when he allowed two runs over five innings in a dominant 13-2 victory for the Dodgers.
On the opposing side, Chase Dollander has not yet faced the Dodgers during his twelve starts this season. Since making his major league debut on April 6, Dollander has yet to pitch against Los Angeles, as his rotation did not coincide with Colorado’s recent visit to Dodger Stadium.
Rockies Struggle Through Difficult Homestand
Colorado has had a challenging time at home, losing three of the first four games in their current six-game homestand against National League West rivals. The team has yet to post back-to-back wins at Coors Field this season, managing only eight home victories and ten wins on the road. These results underscore the Rocky Mountain team’s ongoing difficulties in securing consistent success.
Return of Michael Toglia Brings Optimism to Rockies’ Lineup
Despite the Rockies’ struggles, Michael Toglia’s return from Triple-A Albuquerque has provided a spark. Early-season struggles led to his demotion at the end of May after sustaining a .194 batting average. After spending three weeks refining his swing with the Isotopes, Toglia was recalled on June 16 and has responded well, raising his batting average to .303 in June.
Toglia’s improved plate discipline is notable, with his strikeouts significantly reduced. Prior to his demotion, he struck out 81 times, compared to only 11 strikeouts in eight games since returning.
If you get really good at what you’re good at, I think the strikeouts will go down,
Toglia said.
I’m not the kind of hitter where I focus on just putting the ball in play, not striking out. I’ve tried that before, and that hasn’t worked.
—Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies Hitter
I have to stay aggressive, try to do damage. When that is my mentality, that’s when I’m the best version of me.
—Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies Hitter
Implications of Wednesday’s Pitching Duel
Wednesday’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto Dodgers matchup holds significance as it could extend Los Angeles’s dominance over Colorado, reinforcing their momentum in the National League West race. Yamamoto’s previous success against the Rockies demonstrates his potential to contain their offense, while the Rockies will rely on Dollander to make an impactful major league impression in this key road series.
The outcome will influence not only the series result but the confidence of both teams as the season progresses, especially with the Dodgers seeking to maintain their strong homefield advantage and the Rockies attempting to overcome a disappointing home record.