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Dodgers-Rockies Preview

Aug 26, 2010 - 11:56 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (65-62) at Colorado (66-60), 9:10 p.m. EDT

Clayton Kershaw and Ubaldo Jimenez engaged in an exciting pitchers duel in May. While they may do so again, much focus remains on Manny Ramirez's uncertain future with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the waiver deadline imminent, Ramirez's status with the Dodgers remains unsettled as they prepare to begin a three-game series Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

After driving in the game-winning run in Los Angeles' 5-4 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday, Ramirez sat out the Dodgers' 7-1 victory Thursday afternoon, fueling speculation that the enigmatic slugger had been placed on waivers. The Dodgers have not confirmed that, but if true, teams would have until Friday to make a claim on the 38-year-old veteran and until Tuesday to make a deal.

"The type of marquee player he is and the places he's played, he's certainly used to distractions," manager Joe Torre told the Dodgers' official website. "You don't play in Boston without having to put yourself in a shell."

Ramirez drama notwithstanding, the opener of this series will feature a great pitching matchup as Colorado and Los Angeles turn to their aces to extend their respective winning streaks.

Jimenez (17-4, 2.66 ERA) and Kershaw (11-8, 3.07) opposed each other May 9 at Chavez Ravine, with the latter emerging as the winner after giving up two hits in eight innings of a 2-0 Dodgers victory. Jimenez allowed one run and two hits in seven innings.

Kershaw is 3-0 against Colorado this season, having limited the Rockies to two runs over 20 innings.

However, defeating Jimenez a second time could be tough. Although Jimenez has a lower ERA on the road (2.31) than at Coors (3.09), he is 8-0 at home and the Rockies have provided him with an average of 8.4 runs of support.

Jimenez is 0-2 in his last three starts overall, and could have used a little support at Arizona on Saturday. The right-hander gave up three runs and three hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss.

He'll try to help Colorado further bolster its playoff hopes after the Rockies won their fourth straight Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep of Atlanta to move within four games of San Francisco for the NL wild-card lead.

The Rockies (66-60) overcame a nine-run deficit to match the biggest rally in team history, going ahead on Troy Tulowitzki's RBI single in the eighth.

"The thing I've fallen in love with these players is they don't quit," manager Jim Tracy said.

With the sweep, Colorado continued its surge at home, where it is 41-20 this season and has won 10 of 12. The Rockies are averaging 6.9 runs and hitting .310 over those 12 games.

They'll try to continue that run against Kershaw, who is winless in his last five starts despite giving up three runs or fewer in four of them.

The left-hander struck out 11 but walked five in seven innings of a 5-2 win over Cincinnati on Monday, giving up three runs and five hits.

The Dodgers (66-62) have won six of eight against the Rockies overall and 11 of their last 15 at Coors. They completed a three-game sweep of the Brewers on Thursday and will now look to win four in a row for the first time since June 6-9.

"We've been saying all along, first let's try to put something together and then we'll see where we are," said Torre, whose team is five games out of the wild card.