Rockies vs Dodgers Preview: Sugano Faces LA Power

Los Angeles is on fire with 35 wins and just 20 losses. They've won four straight games and eight of their last ten. Watch out—this team can hit the ball a mile. In the last game, Mookie Betts and Will Smith both rocketed home runs into the stands. The Dodgers scored 15 runs and dominated from start to finish. Colorado showed some fight with Hunter Goodman launching a long ball, but it wasn't enough. The Rockies are struggling badly at 20-36 with four straight losses. They're heading to Dodger Stadium where the Dodgers play like they own the place.

Shohei Ohtani is baseball's biggest superstar. This guy won four MVP awards and hit three homers in one playoff game last year. Mookie Betts can play anywhere and hits home runs with power. Freddie Freeman is the rock of this lineup at age 36. Will Smith catches and hits bombs from behind the plate. These four plus Teoscar Hernandez make the Dodgers nearly impossible to stop. Colorado's best hope is Hunter Goodman behind the plate and Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop. Tovar slugged a 431-foot home run yesterday. That power won't be enough against this squad.

Colorado's pitching staff is dealing with big problems. They play in Coors Field where the thin air makes hitting easier and pitching harder. Tomoyuki Sugano will take the mound for the Rockies. He has a 2.14 ERA and has struck out four batters in this game. The problem? Shohei Ohtani pitches for the Dodgers and he's elite on the bump. The Rockies need their bats to come alive. They've lost four straight and scored just six runs yesterday. Can they wake up against one of baseball's best pitching staffs? Tipoff is Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.