• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Dodgers pin hopes on Greinke in middle tilt with Rockies

Apr 18, 2015 - 11:40 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Zack Greinke hopes to string together a third straight solid outing to begin the season on Saturday when the Los Angeles Dodgers resume a three-game set with the Colorado Rockies.

Coming off a career-high 17 wins last season, Greinke has pitched to a 0.69 earned run average over his first two outings of 2015. He got a touch-luck no- decision versus San Diego on April 7 before picking up a 7-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

The right-hander held the D-backs scoreless over his seven innings of work, scattering five hits without a walk while posting seven strikeouts.

"He was what we needed today," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He kept his pitch count down and was able to go deep for us."

Greinke, 31, is 6-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 14 career meetings with the Rockies, all but one of those starts.

Jordan Lyles goes for the Rockies and also will make his third start of the young campaign.

Lyles beat the Milwaukee Brewers in his season debut before picking up a no- decision on Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. Hurt a bit by his defense, the right-hander was charged with three runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks over six innings, striking out three.

The 24-year-old Lyles has struggled in going winless in three career meetings with the Dodgers, posting an 0-2 record and 7.13 ERA while allowing 14 runs and four homers over 17 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers pushed their winning streak to five straight games with a 7-3 win over the Rockies on Friday. Howie Kendrick hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, while Adrian Gonzalez stayed hot at the plate with three hits, three runs scored and a pair of RBI.

Clayton Kershaw picked up his first win of the season, striking out 12 and surrendering three runs -- one earned -- on six hits and a walk over six innings.

"Clayton still is searching," Mattingly said. "He had a bunch of punchouts tonight, but he doesn't seem like himself yet."

Kyle Kendrick surrendered six runs on seven hits and four walks over 4 2/3 frames for Colorado, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

"I left a pitch up to Howie and I made a couple of mistakes," said Kendrick. "My command wasn't there. I was just trying to be too fine."

Charlie Blackmon cracked a two-run homer and Troy Tulowitzki added a solo shot in defeat.

The Dodgers went 13-6 versus the Rockies last season and have swept the past two three-game sets played in Los Angeles.