Dodgers look to lean on Eric Lauer in opener vs. Rockies

Once believed to be a temporary emergency addition to the starting rotation, the Los Angeles Dodgers are finding a comfort level when left-hander Eric Lauer takes the mound.

After Lauer was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays, then acquired in a May trade for a player to be named later or cash considerations, the Dodgers are 6-0 on the days when he pitches.

Lauer (4-5, 4.84 ERA), is 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA in six appearances (five starts) with the Dodgers. He will start again Monday at home against the Colorado Rockies.

"Every time he takes the ball it seems like he's going six innings and giving us some length," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "... That's what he signed up for, and he's been nothing but impressive for us."

In 14 career starts against the Rockies, Lauer is 3-6 with a 6.38 ERA, including a win in his Dodgers debut May 26 when he gave up one run over six innings in a 15-6 rout.

The Dodgers fell 5-2 to the San Diego Padres on Sunday as they failed to finish off a four-game sweep. But they still have won 10 of their last 13 games and have a massive 14-game lead in the National League West over the Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.

It was an emotional day as Los Angeles catcher Eliezer Alfonzo made his major league debut hours after news surfaced that his sister and stepmother were confirmed to have been killed in last month's earthquake in Venezuela.

"I went out there to honor my sister and stepmother, and give my best in a difficult moment," Alfonzo said through an interpreter after playing seven innings and going 0-for-2 at the plate.

The Dodgers are 5-2 against the Rockies this season and have averaged 7.4 runs per game, including the 15-run outburst to tie a season high. The Dodgers hit five home runs in that game, including two from Mookie Betts.

The outburst came while scoring eight of the runs over four innings against Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland, who is scheduled to be on the mound again Monday.

Freeland (2-7, 7.25) posted his first win since April 7 after toppling the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. He went 0-6 with an 8.95 ERA over the 11 starts while waiting for a win.

In 27 career starts against the Dodgers, his second most against any club, he is 5-13 with a 5.04 ERA. He is 0-4 with a 7.58 ERA in six starts against Los Angeles over the past four seasons.

Colorado won for the fourth time in its past five games when it rallied past the San Francisco Giants 7-6 on Sunday. Kyle Karros struck the decisive blow on a three-run homer in the eighth inning.

"A big change that I've made is passion over perfection," said Karros, who is the son of Eric Karros, the Dodgers' all-time leader in home runs during their Los Angeles era. "... I've switched my perspective. Rather than playing to be perfect, I'm playing with some fire, playing with some edge. I'm playing to have a lot of fun."

Colorado is just 37-54 this season but the club's 122 runs in the eighth inning or later lead the major leagues.

The Rockies were 21-70 through 91 games in 2025.

--Field Level Media