Dodgers Dominate Rockies, Sidestep Diaz’s Injury Concerns

DENVER –– So, what’s the best way for the Dodgers to steer clear of closer Edwin Diaz’s elbow injury? Well, maybe it’s about building such a huge lead that a save situation in the 9th inning becomes irrelevant.

That’s precisely what they did on Monday, thrashing the Colorado Rockies 12-3, allowing them to balance out their four-game series at Coors Field after dropping the first two games over the weekend.

Before the game, all eyes were, understandably, on Diaz. The team had shared news that he would undergo surgery to address an issue with his elbow that had been affecting his pitching speed early this season.

Manager Dave Roberts mentioned that the Dodgers (16-6) might be close to making some saves in the coming games. But on this particular night, he didn’t have to make that call.

Instead, the Dodgers unleashed an offensive barrage against veteran left-hander Jose Quintana, scoring six runs and establishing an insurmountable lead, scoring in all but two innings. Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas kicked things off with back-to-back homers, and they went 7-for-7 in the sixth and seventh slots. Muncy even capped it off with another homer in the ninth.

Shohei Ohtani continued his impressive streak, reaching base three times with a single and two walks, stretching his on-base streak to an impressive 52 games.

Meanwhile, Dalton Rushing also had a fantastic outing, hitting his 6th and 7th home runs of the season, putting him just one shy of the National League lead, despite having only 27 at-bats this year.

This offensive explosion meant that relievers Edgardo Henriquez and newly recalled Jake Eder had it easy when they took over the game. By then, the outcome was already determined.

Diaz’s situation wasn’t overshadowed entirely, at least for one night.

What It Means

Finishing a four-game series (9 wins, 14 losses) against the rebuilding Rockies with only a split would have been disappointing for the Dodgers. Still, Monday’s victory allowed them to avoid their first loss to Colorado in a series since 2022. Their record against National League West opponents in the last 16 games is impressive—12 wins, no losses, and four draws.

The Dodgers have dropped only one of their first seven series this season and haven’t lost since their three-game bout with the Cleveland Guardians at the start of their homestand.

Who is Hot

Rojas’ second-inning home run marked his first of the season, but arguably, his most impactful hit came later. He singled in the fourth inning, which also marked his 1,000th career hit. It was a moment of significance for him; he ran to first, fist-pumping and glancing skyward, while the team made sure to return the milestone ball to their dugout.

Overall, Rojas has been solid in what is likely his final season before retirement, going 3-for-3 and contributing with a sacrifice bunt. After 13 games, he holds a batting average of .382 and an OPS of .950.

Who is Not?

On the flip side, the Rockies struggled defensively on what can only be described as a rough night. They recorded three errors and two lead-to-run misplays, including a routine grounder to third that contributed to a two-run rally in the third inning.

Things didn’t improve in the fourth, where Quintana was called for a costly balk. He seemed to have escaped a jam when Ohtani hit into a double play, but the umpire ruled that Quintana had twitched beforehand, allowing the Dodgers to add another run.

To the Next

After the game, the Dodgers packed up and headed to the airport to catch a flight to San Francisco. They are set to begin their first series of the season against the rival Giants on Tuesday night. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2 wins, 1 loss, ERA 2.10) will face Landon Loop (3 wins, 1 loss, ERA 2.38) in the opener.