Rockies manager Bud Black has no intention of moving Nolan Arenado out of the heart of the order.
Yes, Arenado’s left shoulder is aching and he was batting just .256, with a .751 OPS (well below his career mark of .891) entering Friday night’s game against the Dodgers at Coors Field. But Black hit Arenado third Friday night and Arenado has batted either third or fourth in the lineup every game he’s started this season.
“You want your best hitters to get the most at-bats, and that’s how we are lining it up,” Black said. “There’s really nobody, right now, really hot. (Raimel) Tapia is holding his own, leading off, and I think he’s a good fit at the top of the lineup. But I don’t think there is any magic lineup or movement of lineup that will really get anybody going.”
Arenado has been batting for a decent average lately, hitting safely in 16 of his last 20 games with a .307 average, six doubles and nine RBIs. He has eight home runs but just one since Aug. 20. The third baseman has said that his sore shoulder does not allow him to follow through as he normally does.
Special K. Black has a great appreciation for Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw, who’s scheduled to start Saturday night’s game at Coors Field. Black, after all, was a left-handed pitcher for parts of 15 big-league seasons.
He’s seen Kershaw evolve from a young power pitcher to a more nuanced veteran. This season, Kershaw (5–2, 2.28 ERA), is once again performing like one of the best pitchers in the game.
“The fastball looks a little crisper, and so does the slider,” Black said. “It looks a little crisper, so I think there’s been maybe just a little uptick in his overall stuff. He’s always been able to locate the ball, and the last number of years I think we’ve seen him do that very well.”
Kershaw’s fastball is coming to the plate between 91 and 93 mph, two to three ticks faster than it was each of the past two years.
Footnotes. Boston acquired minor league right-handed reliever Jacob Wallace from the Rockies on Friday, completing the Aug. 31 trade for outfielder Kevin Pillar. Wallace was selected by the Rockies in the third round of the 2019 draft. … Black said that right-handed relievers Mychal Givens and Yency Almonte have been dealing with shoulder soreness, which is the reason why they have not been used lately. Black, however, said that Givens would be available Friday night if needed.
On Deck
Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (5–2, 2.28 ERA) at RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (0–1, 8.68)
6:10 p.m. Saturday, Coors Field
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 AM
Kershaw owns the Rockies, going 23–8 with a 3.28 ERA in 42 starts against them, with a 1.15 WHIP and an average of 9.72 strikeouts per game. But he has struggled at Coors Field, at least in relative terms, going 10–5 with 4.26 ERA and a 1.286 WHIP in 22 starts. He last pitched Monday against the Padres, allowing three earned runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings and getting charged with his second loss of the season. He struck out nine, with no walks, while throwing a season-high 99 pitches. Gonzalez, who’s essentially replacing the injured Jon Gray in the rotation, is 0–1 in two starts this season, giving up seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings. In two relief appearances, he’s given up two runs across six innings. Gonzalez fared well against the Dodgers last season, going 1–0 with a 2.66 ERA in four games (three starts).
Trending: The Dodgers entered Friday’s game having homered in 41 of their first 51 games this year. The Dodgers’ 95 home runs lead the majors, ahead of the Yankees (88) and the Padres (85). According to STATS LLC, there have only been seven NL teams that have led the majors in homers since the designated hitter was first used in 1973.
At issue: Right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez is struggling mightily. He’s been scored upon in five of his last six appearances, giving up 12 runs over just four innings (27.00 ERA). For the season, left-handers are hitting .302 against him, while right-handers are batting .346.
Pitching Probables
Sunday: Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin (1–1, 1.51) at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (4–2, 3.30), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Monday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (2–6, 4.33) at Giants LHP Drew Smyly (0–0, 3.94), 7:45 p.m., ATTRM
Tuesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2–2, 3.75) at Giants LHP Tyler Anderson (2–3, 5.06), 7:45 p.m, ATTRM