Yorvit Torrealba #8 of the Colorado Rockies takes an at bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on August 27, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 3-2. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
While both teams are playoff-bound, if the Rockies sweep, they will carry the NL West Divisional flag home with them. One win by the Dodgers, and the NL title is theirs.
Since the Dodgers have the edge in the head-to-head matchup, no playoff game will be required. The Rockies must sweep the series in order to be awarded the division.
The Dodgers looked to have a lock on the NL West, holding an eight-game lead on July 31st and as much as nine-and-a-half during the season. But the Rockies have been persistently charging up the standings.
What once was thought to be a possibly meaningless series between the two teams to wrap up the season will now be for the division.
The Rockies' 9–2 win over the Brewers on Thursday afternoon set the table for the dramatic season finale.
"We're in," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki told CBS4 in Denver. "Anything can happen once you're in."
As the champagne flowed during their postgame celebration, Tulowitzki recalled the 2007 post-season champagne showers. "It stings, but I've never forgotten '07 and it's great to experience it again. It never gets old."
"We've worked our whole lives to be in the situations that we're in right now," first baseman Todd Helton said on the Rockies Web site. "Not only do we enjoy it, we relish the moment."
The Dodgers have played Colorado 15 times this season and LA has dominated, leading the series 12–3. Colorado has played in LA six times and escaped with only one win.
Nine of the 15 games played were while the Rockies were under old manager Clint Hurdle and he managed only one win. New manager Jim Tracy has not really fared better, with a 2–4 record against LA, only one of which was in LA.
The last 10 games have proven to be complete opposites for the two teams. The Rockies have won seven of their last ten, including a four-game winning streak.
The Dodgers have lost six of their last ten, including a four-game losing streak, matching their longest of the season.
When asked about their current skid, skipper Joe Torre told the LA Times, “I sense they're anxious, I sense they want to get this over with.”
“When we left town for this trip, we had won five of six, and on Sunday, had beaten [Tim] Lincecum and the Giants. We came on the road in the right frame of mind. It's strange."
The Dodger’s magic number remains at one game, as it has been since Monday.
Pitching Matchups
The only pitching matchup truly set is the Friday night matchup. The Saturday and Sunday afternoon matchups may depend on what scenario the preceding games bring.The Rockies will start Ubaldo Jimenez (14–12) on Friday against Randy Wolf (11–6). Jimenez has faced the Dodgers four times this season and has yet to get a win. Wolf has one win and two decisions against the Rockies this season.
The Rockies look to start Jorge De La Rosa (16–9) on Saturday against Clayton Kershaw (8–8).
According to the Rockies official MLB Web site, they will be starting Jason Marquis (15–12). The Dodgers have not listed a starter for the Sunday game.
Manager Jim Tracy plans on playing all of his regulars. "Until we get beat a game, we're going to try to win the division," Tracy said.
This Dodgers-Rockies season finale will give what every true baseball fan really wants—meaningful baseball in the final series of the year.
