Monday night’s NL West showdown at Dodger Stadium between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies presents a clear contrast between a surging contender and a struggling division rival. The Dodgers, off to an 11–5 start, have asserted their dominance early in the season with a deep and experienced roster, and they’ve been especially strong at home, going 6–2 in their first eight games at Chavez Ravine. Mookie Betts continues to lead the offense with a .288 batting average, showcasing his usual elite plate discipline and defensive versatility, while Teoscar Hernández has delivered key power production with 16 RBIs already under his belt. Despite an overall team batting average of .225, the Dodgers have consistently scored in critical moments, averaging 4.4 runs per game thanks to situational hitting and timely home runs. On the mound, they’ll turn to Dustin May, who has been exceptional in the early going with a 0.82 ERA over multiple outings, though his record stands at 0–1 due to minimal run support during his appearances. May’s dominance has come from his elite fastball velocity, late movement, and command of the strike zone, which has made him one of the toughest right-handers to square up so far this season.

The Dodgers’ pitching staff as a whole owns a 3.84 ERA and is limiting opposing batters to a .220 average, a sign of their ability to control the pace of games. On the other side, the Rockies are limping into this series with a 3–12 record and a 1–5 mark on the road, having lost three straight games while struggling to generate offense. They average just 2.7 runs per game, ranking among the lowest in the majors, and their team batting average sits at .218—both figures that underscore how badly they’ve been outmatched at the plate. Brenton Doyle has been one of the few bright spots, leading Colorado with three home runs and 12 RBIs, but he’s lacked consistent help from the rest of the lineup. Pitching hasn’t offered much relief either, as the Rockies have a team ERA of 5.02 and opposing hitters are teeing off with a .286 average against their staff. Antonio Senzatela will start for Colorado, and he’s posted an 0–2 record with a 5.14 ERA, struggling with command and giving up hard contact in nearly every outing. The Rockies’ defense has also faltered, putting added pressure on their pitching and allowing innings to spiral when errors extend at-bats. With the Dodgers entering as heavy favorites (moneyline around -336), expectations are high for Los Angeles to take advantage of a soft matchup and keep pace atop the division. The over/under is set at 8.5, hinting at potential scoring if the Rockies’ pitching falters early or the Dodgers’ offense heats up. Ultimately, this game is about execution—if the Dodgers stay disciplined and May continues his sharp form, they should cruise to a comfortable win, while the Rockies will need a near-flawless effort to keep it competitive and perhaps snap out of their early-season spiral.