• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rockies-Dodgers Preview

Sep 18, 2010 - 7:14 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (81-66) at Los Angeles (72-76), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Joe Torre's managerial career with the Los Angeles Dodgers will end in just over two weeks.

The Colorado Rockies hope to still be playing baseball at that time.

Led by Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies look to continue their playoff push by notching their 13th victory in 15 games Saturday against the Dodgers.

Prior to Colorado's 7-5 win at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Torre announced that he will retire at the end of the season, but couldn't say with certainty that he'll never manage again. Los Angeles (72-76) immediately announced named hitting coach Don Mattingly as manager in 2011.

Torre led the two-time defending division champions to back-to-back NLCS appearances in his first two years with the club, but his third season has been disappointing. Los Angeles has dropped 10 of 13 and is in danger of finishing with its first losing record since 2005.

The Rockies (81-66) endured some struggles of their own earlier this season, but are once again finishing strong.

Colorado was 11 games out of first place Aug. 21, but is a major league-best 19-6 since to pull within 1 1/2 games of NL West-leading San Francisco. The Rockies, who also enjoyed late-season surges to makes the playoffs in 2007 and 2009, are 2 1/2 games in back of wild-card leading Atlanta.

"I love our chances. We've been here before, and we're starting to smell it," Tulowitzki said. "We're playing very meaningful games down the stretch. We dug ourselves a hole early in the season, but we always climb out of it."

Tulowitzki has been instrumental to Colorado's latest charge. The All-Star shortstop hit his 24th homer Friday, and is batting .377 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 15 games.

Tulowitzki and his teammates will be getting their first look at rookie John Ely (4-7, 4.62 ERA), who is set to make his second start for Los Angeles since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sept. 6.

Ely allowed three runs and six hits in six innings in last Saturday's 6-3 win at Houston, but didn't receive a decision.

This will be the right-hander's first start at Dodger Stadium since July. He is 0-3 with an 11.40 ERA in his last four starts in Los Angeles after going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his first four there.

The Dodgers have won five straight home series over the Rockies, but are one loss away from ending that run.

Andre Ethier has been a big part of that success, with 13 RBIs in the last 15 meetings in Chavez Ravine. Ethier, who singled, walked four times and scored once Friday, is 5 for 7 with two doubles against Jhoulys Chacin (8-9, 3.53), Colorado's scheduled starter.

Chacin was a little shaky Sunday against Arizona, allowing two unearned runs - both scoring off his own throwing error - and four hits while walking four in four innings in a 4-2 victory. Although he was unable to qualify for the win, the right-hander is still 3-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last five starts.

One victory in this stretch came over the Dodgers on Aug. 28, when Chacin gave up one run and four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Chacin's made four starts versus Los Angeles this year, posting a 0.63 ERA in his two wins, but a 7.84 ERA in his two losses.