It's easy to write off the Colorado Rockies in this three-game series against the back-to-back World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Hold off on that move right now.
If you, as a Colorado Rockies fan, are already getting the brooms out for the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to use on the home team, then maybe just hold off on that for now.
Sure, the Dodgers have one of the best records in baseball and a major-league payroll to back all of that up. Yet they are not playing the top-level style of play many Dodgers fans have come to expect, especially as the 2026 MLB season turns toward a postseason drive.
Colorado is coming off a series win against the San Francisco Giants and now have 50 wins this season. Yes, that's already a few more than the entire 2025 MLB season and there are still about six weeks left to play.
Another factor in the Dodgers' recent swoon has been the awful play of big-money free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker, who won World Series gold when he was with the Houston Astros, didn't set the world on fire with the Chicago Cubs last season. Los Angeles signed him in the offseason and so far, well, he's stunk.
The Rockies might not have to see Tucker much this series. That all depends on what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wants to do in his lineup.
Colorado is sending starting pitchers' ace Tomoyuki Sugano out on Monday night to get this series off on, hopefully, a good foot for the Rockies. And, well, this series is being played at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Maybe Colorado can take advantage of having the home-field advantage here against Los Angeles.
Rockies vs. Dodgers: Probable Starters
Monday, Aug. 17: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (12-5, 4.43) vs. LHP Blake Snell (0-1, 5.00)
Snell is trying to get back into the swing of things for the Dodgers. He's looking to give Los Angeles a boost in the starting rotation, yet can he do it? As for Sugano, well, he's been sharp for Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer.
Just throw out that high ERA for Sugano. He's in a position to give Colorado a leg up on this three-game series with a win on Monday night.
Tuesday, Aug. 18: RHP Ryan Feltner (5-6, 5.59) vs. LHP Eric Lauer (6-1, 3.48)
Meh, this looks like a Lauer win if you go by the numbers. Can Lauer, though, keep the Rockies from enjoying their home-field advantage? Coors Field, as everyone knows, is a hitter-friendly ballpark.
Los Angeles has a bunch of heavy hitters in their lineup, ranging from superstar Shohei Ohtani to Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernandez. One also cannot leave out the future Hall of Fame first baseman Freddie Freeman, too.
Wednesday, Aug. 19: LHP Kyle Freeland (4-10, 6.27) vs. RHP Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.46)
Hey, hey, look who's taking the mound for the Rockies? Kyle Freeland looks like he found a dose of a potion in the fountain of youth. He's been putting together some solid starts recently, despite his poor record and ERA.
Roki Sasaki has had his ups and downs recently for the Dodgers. He has a .500 record and ERA above 4, but he has a knack for finding the strike zone when needed. Maybe the Rockies' bats of Jake McCarthy, Brett Sullivan, and others can pick up the pace.
Game Times/Etc.
All games in the Rockies-Dodgers series will start at 6:40 p.m. MT.
Rockies fans can see these games on Rockies.TV and listen to them in the Greater Denver metropolitan area on KOA NewsRadio 850 AM & 94.1 FM. For Spanish broadcasts of home games, tune int KNRV 1150-AM.
