LOS ANGELES — Any question of whether the Rockies were going for the division title was eliminated with today’s lineup. Todd Helton is in there. So is shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Both are guys that could use a rest with a playoff berth locked up.
“What is beautiful is that we had our celebration yesterday. It was well deserved. Now it’s over and it’s back to business. If anybody piecemeal lineup out there, I won’t do it,” manager Jim Tracy said. “I have too much respect for the integrity of the game. And we are still playing for something.”
The Dodgers received bad news before the first pitch. They lost pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a herniated disk in his neck. He will not be on Los Angeles’ first-round playoff roster. He’s also obviously out for Sunday. Vincente Padilla will start in his place. Chad Billingsley will be available in relief or a simulated game. The Dodgers have not determined their playoff rotation.
Told that his team is a mess right now, manager Joe Torre said, “It’s like going to the dentist office. You have to deal with it. He’s sad. He wants to be out there.”
The Rockies need to sweep the Dodgers this weekend to win the division. The odd number of games guarantees that there won’t be a tie. The Dodgers have lost four straight. The Rockies have won four straight. And let’s set a few things straight. Many of you probably saw Tulowitzki chugging chocolate milk and pouring it over Eric Young Jr. during the clubhouse celebration at Coors Field yesterday. It had nothing to do with either guy abstaining from alcohol.
“I was just tired of all the champagne and beer, and wanted something different,” Tulowitzki said. “It made the other stuff go down easier.”
Also, Jason Marquis has a bit of a shiner under his right eye. He got hit during the on-field celebration. You’d think he’d know how to party safer since he’s done it 10 years in a row.
Colorado will use its ace, Ubaldo Jimenez, opposite of the Dodgers’ ace, Randy Wolf. Wolf has won only 11 games, but the bullpen has blown nine saves for him.
TBS analyst Ron Darling raved about Jimenez yesterday. He said he belongs in the same category of “(Tim) Lincecum, Matt Cain and Adam Wainwright.”
The Dodgers have struggled offensively. Manny Ramirez has one home run since Sept. 14, but Tracy still will approach him with caution.
“I guarantee you if you throw one bad pitch, everyone will say he’s hot,” Tracy said.
A look at the lineups with a reminder that the Rockies are 3-12 against the Dodgers this season:
Rockies
LF Carlos Gonzalez
CF Dexter Fowler
1B Todd Helton
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Garrett Atkins
C Yorvit Torrealba
RF Ryan Spilborghs
2B Clint Barmes
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
Dodgers
SS Rafael Furcal
RF Andre Ethier
LF Manny Ramirez
CF Matt Kemp
1B James Loney
3B Casey Blake
C Russell Martin
2B Orlando Hudson
LHP Randy Wolf
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
