• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Dodgers-Rockies Preview

Apr 23, 2016 - 6:13 AM The Los Angeles Dodgers' efforts to quell any lofty expectations foisted on Kenta Maeda have been undermined by his outstanding performances.

The right-hander looks to build on his latest dazzling display Saturday night when he meets the Colorado Rockies and gets his first taste of Coors Field.

Maeda (2-0, 0.47 ERA) started his major-league career with 14 consecutive scoreless innings before yielding a run and four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of Sunday's 3-1 win over San Francisco.

"I've been really cautious about putting a number on expectations," manager Dave Roberts told MLB's official website. "You just want to go out and watch him compete, and he prepares well. You look at him after three starts and where he's at right now, he has exceeded expectations.

"He's throwing the ball as well as anyone in baseball right now."

Maeda, though, is making his first appearance at Coors Field, where games are averaging a major league-high 14.4 runs and 3.6 homers.

In seven home games, the Rockies (9-7) lead the majors with a .303 average and a .943 OPS. During a three-game home winning streak, they're batting .377 with five homers and 28 runs.

They opened this three-game set against the Dodgers (10-7) with a 7-5 win Friday. Brandon Barnes drove in two runs on a tie-breaking triple in the eighth inning after Ryan Raburn connected for a two-run homer while Nolan Arenado added a solo shot.

Arenado is batting .407 with four homers, three doubles and 12 RBIs at home compared to a .194 average with three home runs and five RBIs in nine road games.

The Rockies may not have to do much offensively if Tyler Chatwood (2-1, 2.79) can build on his best performance since missing all of 2015 and all but four starts the previous year due to Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander retired the first 14 batters and finished with seven strikeouts and two hits allowed in seven innings of Sunday's 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. It was an improvement after he allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings of a 7-2 home loss to San Francisco on April 12.

"Got to be up there after the last two years," said Chatwood, who threw 100 pitches for the first time since beating Boston on Sept. 24, 2013. "I feel good when I'm out there. I'm able to recover really well, which is big for me."

Chatwood is facing the Dodgers for the first time since July 13, 2013.

Los Angeles' Adrian Gonzalez is among baseball's leaders with a .364 average, and he's 8 for 15 with two homers and five RBIs in the past four games. He is also 7 for 12 in the last four against right-handers.

He had a solo homer and a two-run single Friday, giving him a .375 average and 19 RBIs in his last 12 visits to Coors.