Game 153 Thread: Sept. 20 @ Rockies, 12:05p

Dodgers start Derek Lowe, RHP (12-12, 3.71 vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP (3-4, 4.13)

Dodgers: 79-73 (4th place NL West, 6.5 GB; 4th place WC, 5.5 GB; L4)
Rockies: 80-72 (3rd place NL West, 5.5 GB; 3rd place WC, 4.5 GB; W4)

Current postseason odds for the Dodgers, from Baseball Prospectus: 1.06%

From Dodgers.com, the scouting report on the starters:

Dodgers: Bum hand and all, Lowe pitched a gem against Arizona in the heat of the playoff race, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out five in seven innings. Lowe, who missed his scheduled start on Wednesday because of a bruised hand, used his sinker and two-seam fastball to keep the D-backs in check. Lowe threw only 74 pitches before being pulled and his only mistake was a letter high sinker that didn't sink to Tony Clark, who smashed over the wall in center. In his only start against Colorado this season, Lowe gave up five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Rockies: Jimenez had been on hot stretch with a 2.39 ERA over his last six starts entering his start against the Marlins on Saturday. But Jimenez fell back to some of the problems that used to haunt him in the Minor Leagues. He had poor command and built his pitch count early. He lasted only three innings, throwing 69 pitches, 38 for strikes. He gave up five runs (two earned) on five hits. He did have five strikeouts..

COMMENTS: Think we can escape Coors Field with at least ONE win? D-Lowe needs to get us back on track. The season seems to be slipping away, and it would be fun to see some of the rookies play - how about Hu at shortstop?